Cecil, Zimbabwean protected lion, Died at 13

  Animals

Cecil was born in 2002, and died on July 1, 2015.

Cecil was a male Southwest African lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) that lived primarily in the Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe.

The lion was a major attraction at the park and was being studied and tracked by the University of Oxford as part of a larger study.

The Lion was wounded with an arrow by Walter Palmer, an American recreational big-game hunter, was then tracked, and on 1 July 2015, approximately 40 hours later, killed with a rifle. He was 13 years old when killed.

The killing drew international media attention and sparked outrage among animal conservationists, politicians and celebrities, as well as a strong negative response against Palmer.

Two men in Zimbabwe are being prosecuted in relation to the hunt.

Palmer had a permit and was not charged with any crime.

Authorities in Zimbabwe have said, he is free to visit Zimbabwe as a tourist but not as a hunter.

Cecil passed away at age 13 in July 2015.