Indira Maha, a Asiatic Lion basks in the spring sunshine in her new $20,000 state of the art enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo September 17. The zoo opened its Big Cats complex for the endangered species - RTXEZ3H
Indira Maha, a Asiatic Lion basks in the spring sunshine in her new $20,000 state of the art enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo September 17. The zoo opened its Big Cats complex for the endangered species - RTXEZ3H

Jericho, the brother of Cecil the lion, was reportedly shot dead in Zimbabwe. The non-governmental organisation Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said that Jericho was shot and killed by a hunter at the Hwange National Park.

Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, told ABC News that about 30 minutes following the park’s announcement regarding the ban on hunting lions, leopards and elephants, he received a phone call saying Jericho was shot by a hunter and died at 4:00 p.m. local time.

“It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil’s brother has been killed at 4 pm today,” the Facebook post made by Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said. “We are absolutely heart-broken.

A lion researcher from Oxford University, however, told CNN that the satellite collar of the lion indicated Jericho was alive and moving as of 8 p.m. local time. An Oxford spokesperson said they are seeking clarification on the conflicting reports.

In early July, Cecil the lion was killed by an American dentist from Minnesota named Walter Palmer. It was Jericho who took care of his cubs after his death. Rodrigues made it clear that the hunter has still not been arrested. The sudden death of another lion from the family made the call for extradition of the killer of Cecil even louder this time.

According to the Associated Press, a cabinet minister gave assurance that the process has already begun but the dentist will surely be punished. “Unfortunately it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher as he had already absconded to his country of origin,” the Environment, Water and Climate Minister of Zimbabwe Oppah Muchinguri said to AP. She also assured Palmer will be made accountable. “Almost 5000,000 people are calling for his extradition and we need this support. We want him tried in Zimbabwe because he violated our laws,” Muchinguri said.

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