The killing of Xanda, son of Cecil the lion, by a trophy hunter at the end of July was completely legal under the laws of Zimbabwe. Xanda was over six years old and he had wandered outside of the boundaries of the protected area of Hwange National Park. But, even if his killers will not face consequences for his death, his pride likely will, as his death leaves them with an uncertain future. This is especially true of his cubs, who could be killed by a rival male seeking to take over the pride. Experts studying Xanda’s pride put the cubs’ chances at survival “at just 50 percent.”
Link: The Telegraph