Cecil the Lion killed by US dentist

Narvik

Witt

I am infuriated and saddened by this.
People like him sicken me. I have nothing but hate for him and those like him.

LHoffman

^^^ Bit strong, eh?

Private-Panic

I understand Wittman’s disgust.

Although my father was very active in the hunting & shooting world, my one foray (which cost the life of a small bird) left me feeling terrible.

To shoot a lion seems so much worse.

I have no doubt there will be keen hunters on these boards. But I imagine many of them would feel saddened by this story.

LHoffman

The whole story is a bit convoluted and just messed up in a number of ways; which makes it hard to articulate a stance one way or another.

I don’t know that I will ever feel the need to kill a lion. They are beautiful creatures, much cooler alive than dead in my opinion. However, if it is legal hunt them in a certain manner, I have no problems with someone else doing it.

The problem for this guy was that apparently Cecil (by virtue of his tracking collar) was not able to be hunted. From what I have read, it appears neither the doctor or his guide knew this particular lion was Cecil (or that he had a collar) until after he was dead. That doesn’t absolve them of a crime, it just would indicate that they didn’t go out to kill Zimbabwe’s most famous lion (who I had never even heard of before this story) on purpose.

The fact that the lion had a name just makes it easy for people to care about it. How many of the general public really knew this lion before the story (not that we can know)? How many of those people are outraged every time a lion is killed?

The thing that disgusts me more than the killing of the lion, which I do think is sad and unfortunate, is the public outcry that seems to be condemning and convicting this man all at once. He should be prosecuted fully if he has broken the law, but social media just turns events like these into a witch hunt.

Private-Panic

I agree with much that you say Hoff.

In particular the jumping on the bandwagon of condemnation.

However, if humanity could evolve beyond a desire to kill fellow creatures I do believe the world would be a better place.

ghr2

#ZebraLivesMatter

LHoffman

@Private:

However, if humanity could evolve beyond a desire to kill fellow creatures I do believe the world would be a better place.

Sounds like Star Trek. Which was a pipe dream in the 1960s and I believe still will be one in 2370. Maybe it would be a better place. Maybe it would not matter. I am sure we will never know.

As the dominant species, it is our role to kill other creatures; be that for food or for sport. I accept that and furthermore embrace it. Just as if a radioactive spider bit you, humans have both great power and great responsibility. At this point in human history, we are doing a better job than ever of being environmentally responsible. In terms of hunting or pollution and many other things.

barney

I only kill things that I eat or are a threat, pest. While I wouldn’t go to Africa to kill a lion, as long as the resource isn’t hunted to extinction, who am I to tell people how to live their lives ?

variance

Dentist should be shot.

Narvik

@variance:

Dentist should be shot.

Agree

Cecil the Lion killed by US dentist

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