Coalition Brother of Cecil the Lion Is Dead

It is a sad day for Zimbabweans, conservationists and animal lovers alike as it is confirmed that Jericho, Cecil the Lion’s coalition sibling, has passed away.

The 12-year-old lion was found dead in Hwange National Park, but so far nothing points to poaching as the cause of death.

According to top conservationist Brent Stapelkamp, ever since Cecil’s tragic murder, Jericho has been protecting Cecil’s cubs.

Friends of Hwange is a group of conservationists dedicated to preserving the resources of the Hwange National Park. They posted about Jericho on their website yesterday saying:

“He was a majestic old lion that lived and died in the wild – just as it should be. Adieu old fellow, you will be greatly missed by the many fans and visitors to Hwange that knew you and followed your life.”

An autopsy will be carried out to determine the official cause of death, however there are reports that the lion had been looking frail and therefore it is suspected that he died from natural causes.

The big cat’s body was found on Saturday afternoon during a routine monitoring by researcher Jane Hunt from Hwange Lion Research.