On my last blog
post, I examined why some hunt? Of course, I posed some of the excuses hunters
put out there. I also examined how much I hate hunting. Hate is a strong word
but the only fitting one to describe my feelings about such an ugly and totally
unnecessary activity. This post is overdue, but still true.
Cecil at Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe .
Palmer and "his trophy" Cecil.
Cecil at Hwange National Park.
Cecil at Hwange National Park.
Cecil the lion’s cubs faring well, new footage shows:
Read more at http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/cecil-the-lions-cubs-faring-well-new-footage-shows/#5hhDiDCt8v4JLAbH.99
Cecil at Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe .
Since my last
post, Cecil, a rather famous and majestic lion, and king of his piece of
jungle aged 13 that resided in Zimbabwe with his pride until one fateful night,
an American dentist from Eden Prairie, Minnesota named Walter Palmer paid some
local guides the outrageous sum of $55,000 to hunt a “trophy”. His hired guides used
an animal carcass to lure Cecil out of a protected area of the Hwange National
Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe, Palmer shot him with an arrow from a
crossbow, and injured and bleeding, Cecil wandered about for forty long
tortuous hours until he was tracked and shot with a rifle, skinned and beheaded
by Palmer and his “guides”. Palmer got his trophy. Cecil lost his life, not in
a fair hunt, but in an illegal trapping scheme. Cecil was poached, murdered by
a greedy, selfish, trophy seeking hunter and his hired cronies.
Palmer and "his trophy" Cecil.
Palmer
denies he did anything wrong. He denies he knew Cecil had a tracking collar,
but if you ever saw an animal wearing one, it is not to be missed. Palmer
violated hunting rules before and after killing Cecil, he planned on killing
another “trophy.” Though, Palmer insists he didn’t know about Cecil’s fame and
being protected, but when the big cat’s beheaded skeleton was found, the
tracking collar was missing. In another report, the tracking collar was later
found where apparently Palmer and cronies tried to bury it. However it really happened,
Palmer was definitely a sissy. Though he hunted regularly continually seeking
trophies, he never discussed his “hobby” with his patients. Obviously, he wasn’t
very proud of his hobby. How could any person feel pride in killing and butchering an animal unfairly.
Cecil was
poached, plain and simple by a hunter looking for a trophy. Nothing else. No
other reason. Zimbabwe wants him extradited to face charges and he should be.
America should not protect such a criminal. Not now. Not ever. What Palmer did
was wrong and he knows it. Otherwise, why run back to America so quickly with
his trophy of Cecil’s head in tow? And what of the facts?
Cecil at Hwange National Park.
According to news
reports and Wikipedia, a criminal investigation was initiated on 7 July 2015 by
law enforcement officers of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management
Authority after they received information “that a lion had been illegally
killed on a farm near Hwange National Park. The investigation discovered that a
lion had been illegally killed on the farm on 1 July 2015.
On 29 July 2015
Theo Bronkhorst appeared in court at Victoria Falls and was charged with
poaching offences for not having the required hunting permit. He was granted
bail at US$1,000 and was ordered to appear back in court on 5 August.
Bronkhorst stated: "Palmer is a totally innocent party to this whole
thing, and he has conducted and bought a hunt from me that was
legitimate." Separately, Ndlovu was charged with allowing an illegal hunt
on his land. Zimbabwe National Parks spokespersons explained that lion hunting
using firearms is legal, but it requires a permit and a quota which is assigned
to a given area. However, this killing was illegal because it took place in an
area that does not have a quota for lion kills. On 5 August 2015, Bronkhorst
reappeared before magistrates charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt.
The case was adjourned until 28 September when Bronkhorst's barrister was next
available.
Cecil's cubs.
Cecil's cubs.
Walter Palmer
left Zimbabwe for the United States after the hunt. He expressed deep regret
for the killing, maintaining that he had relied on the expertise of the local
professional guides to ensure that the hunt was legal. He indicated that he
would cooperate with authorities in the investigation. On 30 July 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service was looking for Palmer as part of its investigation. He contacted them
voluntarily through a representative on the same day. On 31 July 2015, Zimbabwe
officials said they initiated legal proceedings to extradite Palmer from the
United States to face a charge, claiming that Palmer "had a
well-orchestrated agenda which would tarnish the image of Zimbabwe".”
Cecil's cubs.
Cecil's cubs.
Now we have to
keep our fingers crossed and hope that Cecil’s cubs are safe. In the animal
kingdom, when a male lion is killed, another one will move to take over and
exert his dominance. As a result, he’ll kill the male cubs to take over.
However, so far according to an interview with Johnny Rodrigues, head of the
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, Rodrigues said Cecil’s brother, “Jericho had
taken over the pride but had not killed Cecil's cubs, and that he was also
keeping the cubs safe from any rival males.” Let’s hope this is true. Cecil’s
six cubs shouldn’t also fall because of one selfish, greedy hunter in search of
a trophy.
Cecil at Hwange National Park.
For me, hunting
is for sissies. No real man comfortable with himself would kill and/or torture
an animal and call it sport. Killing an animal, any animal in such a way is
cruel and inhumane. It is totally unnecessary. I guess this is how some men get
aroused: They kill an innocent animal. Have total control of their fate. I say,
go to the drugstore and buy one of the Viagra pills out there. Leave the
animals alone. They’re not bothering anyone. As for you and your kind, the
world would be better without you. Unfortunately, hunting isn't limited to men. Women do it, too. Why? Trying to act like a man? What other reason is there?
That is my take
on hunting anyway and I’m proud to say so. I don’t hunt. I never will. I’d
rather starve than kill and innocent harmless animal. Hopefully, something good
will come out of this. Tourism in Zimbabwe has dwindled. Hopefully, it will
continue to dwindle until they put an end to trophy hunting. Before too much
time has passed, I want to express my loss over Cecil, over any animal hunted,
abused, abandoned, mutilated or otherwise mistreated. I dedicate this post to
Cecil and his pride and hope they live a long and safe life. Perhaps, I’m a bit
biased since I love animals and big cats, especially lions and tigers are my
favorites. For all those animals murdered, as a member of the human race, may I be allowed to say, I am so sorry.
I’d love to hear
your take on hunting, trophies and the loss of Cecil.
SEE IT: Cecil the lion's cubs pictured in the wild as their
slain father will receive his own statue in Zimbabwe national park:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/cecil-lion-statue-zimbabwe-park-article-1.2316563
The pride looks after Cecil the lion's cubs:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/70909511/The-pride-looks-after-Cecil-the-lions-cubs
Check out The Lion King’s artist’s tribute to Cecil the
lion:
Read a New Yorker article here about Cecil and the law of
the animal kingdom and ours:
Cecil the lion’s cubs faring well, new footage shows:
Read more at http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/cecil-the-lions-cubs-faring-well-new-footage-shows/#5hhDiDCt8v4JLAbH.99
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell
them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your
first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please
consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter
will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your
local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch
somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do
it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to
make a difference, good or bad. I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for
visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to
one another. Pass it onward.
Regards,
S.J. Francis
In Shattered Lies:
"It's All About Family."
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And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J.
Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis
and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
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