Zimbabwe FINALLY bans trophy hunting after 1 million sign petition

Cecil the Lion: Zimbabwe FINALLY bans trophy hunting after 1 million sign petition

ANIMAL lovers calling for justice for Cecil the Lion have been boosted after Zimbabwe suspended hunting around its biggest game reserve.

By ROB VIRTUE

PUBLISHED: 07:20, Wed, Aug 5, 2015 | UPDATED: 13:12, Wed, Aug 5,

Campaigners, left, outside the workplace of Walter Palmer, who killed Cecil the Lion, right

Wildlife authorities have halted the hunting of big cats and elephants around Hwange National Park.

It came after more than one million people signed a petition calling on the African country to act after much-loved Cecil was brutally killed by American dentist Walter Palmer.

The dentist allegedly lured the big cat outside of the park in Hwange - in which he was protected - and then wounded him with a bow and arrow, before tracking him for 40 hours, shooting him dead and skinning him.

Outraged animal lovers flooded an online petition set up to urge Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to stop authorities issuing permits to kill endangered animals.

After more than one million signed up in just over a week, Edson Chidziya, head of Zimbabwe's parks and wildlife authority Zimparks, said today: "Hunting of lions, leopards and elephants in areas outside of Hwange National Park has been suspended with immediate effect."

A campaigner seen outside the dentist surgery belonging to Walter Palmer

He added big game hunters would only be allowed if "authorised in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority".

The news is likely to be met with support from Care2, a social network for activists, which began the online petiton.

Care2 CEO Randy Paynter said at the launch of the poll: “It’s a tragedy that many of our planet’s most treasured species are also the most vulnerable to those who would take their lives for a trophy. 

“Care2 members are stepping up to pressure Zimbabwean authorities to end this irresponsible and tragic practice once and for all.”

13-year-old lion Cecil was said to have been tempted outside of the park using bait on July 1.

The Empire State Building beamed out an image of Cecil

Palmer claimed he relied on his professional guides to ensure the hunt was legal, and that he had no idea of the lion's famous identity.

It is understood he paid £35,000 ($50,000) to kill the beast, famous for its black mane.

Zimbabwe has started legal proceedings to extradite Palmer from his home in Minnesota to answer charges connected with the lion slaying.

Airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a number of American carriers, have reacted by banning all those attempted to travel abroad for big game hunting.