Cecil's 'brother' Jericho the lion is 'alive and well' after fears of another killing

Cecil the lion was killed in early July by American dentist Walter Palmer

JERICHO the lion, who took over Cecil's pride, was feared to have been shot dead yesterday by poachers in another wildlife tragedy

 

In another revelation, the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) added that Jericho is not actually Cecil the lion's brother but instead is simply "a close ally".
ZCTF insisted that their earlier claim that Jericho had been killed at Hwange National Park had been a case of "mistaken identity".

Researchers from Oxford University who monitor the cat provided a picture of Jericho feeding with other lions to counter media reports of his death.

Cecil and Jericho were 'coalition partners' in their tribe

The ZCTF said: "Jericho is in fact alive and well.

"We were given three separate confirmed reports last night that is was Jericho.

"We apologise for reporting that he had died but were confident that our sources were in fact correct."

The group had yesterday claimed that the lion had been shot dead.

Professor David Macdonald, director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) added:  "Last night we were surprised to see rumours of the death of a second lion, Jericho, circulating in the media - we had no evidence for this.

"The rumours claimed he too had been hunted illegally.

"The WildCRU field research team and a National Parks ranger set out at daybreak to attempt to find him.

 

"Jericho was seen alive and well at 6.15am. He has been feeding on a giraffe kill with the lionesses from his pride."

The lion is said to be protecting Cecil's cubs after he was cruelly shot in July in the head with a bow and arrow then beheaded and skinned 40 hours later by American dentist Walter Palmer.

Palmer paid an astonishing £31,900 for the brutal hunt.

It was first feared that Jericho would kill Cecil's cubs in a move to assert his dominance on the pride.

However, ZCTF added that Jericho had in fact "adopted Cecil's cubs".

Prof Macdonald said that Jericho, who is about 11 years old, was not related by blood to Cecil, dispelling earlier claims that they had been brothers.

But he added: "They were not related though their bond was one close to brotherhood.

"Male lions often form what are termed co-operative 'coalitions' with unrelated males in order to better compete with other males for territories and prides."

 

Yesterday the Zimbabwe government revealed it has started the process to extradite Mr Palmer from his home in Minnesota to stand trial.

The two other individuals involved in the killing have since faced court proceedings in Zimbabwe over the illegal hunt.

The country's environment, water and climate minister, Oppah Muchinguri, said: "We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he be made accountable."

Cecil's death sparked global outrage with hundreds of thousands signing petitions for the dentist to face justice.

The US Attorney's office is also looking into claims that Dr Palmer violated US endangered animal laws.

Ms Muchinguri added: "There has been an outcry.

"Almost 500,000 people are calling for his extradition and we need this support. We want him tried in Zimbabwe because he violated our laws."

Palmer said in a statement earlier this week that he "deeply" regretted the pursuit of the early July hunt in Zimbabwe that "resulted in the taking of this lion."

He added that he "had no idea" Cecil the lion was a "known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study."

Zimbabwe have since imposed an indefinite ban on big game hunting outside the national park.