Zimbabwe's President Blames 'Vandals' For Killing Cecil The Lion
In a speech marking Zimbabwe's National Heroes Day on Monday, President Robert Mugabe said Zimbabweans had failed in their responsibility to protect Cecil the lion.
"Even Cecil the lion is yours," he said. "He's dead, but he was yours to protect and you failed to protect him."
The lion with the distinctive black mane was shot with a crossbow by Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer, who's said to have paid $50,000 for the hunt. It's been reported that the lion, who wore a GPS collar and was part of an Oxford University research study, was lured out of Zimbabwe's protected Hwange National Park before being killed.
Mugabe, 91, said Zimbabweans must protect what he called their country's natural resources from foreign "vandals" seeking to damage and exploit them. "Some may be just ordinary visitors," Mugabe said, "but others want to vandalize, to irregularly and illegally acquire part of our resources."
Not that Mugabe himself appears to have the best track record on wildlife issues. It was reported widely that baby elephant was among the wildlife dishes served at the lavish lunch marking President Mugabe's 91st-birthday celebrations in February.
The killing of Cecil has sparked an international outcry and a backlash against big game trophy hunting. But some commentators wonder why this story about an animal is attracting global headlines while Zimbabwean people struggle with so many problems, including high unemployment, economic strife, poverty and political repression.
Nevertheless, Zimbabwe's environment minister, Oppah Muchinguri, says Palmer, the American, must face justice. "Unfortunately, it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher, as he had already absconded," he says. "We are therefore appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe, so that he be made accountable for his illegal action."
Muchinguri says Zimbabwe is seeking Palmer's extradition from the United States.
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Transcript
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
The killing of Cecil the lion by an American dentist has sparked an international outcry, but there's also criticism of the global attention the death of an animal is receiving, especially when Zimbabwe has so many other problems. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.
OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON, BYLINE: In a speech marking annual National Heroes' Day, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans had failed in their responsibility to protect Cecil the lion.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ROBERT MUGABE: Even Cecil the lion is yours. He's dead. But he was yours to protect and you failed to protect him.
QUIST-ARCTON: The lion with the distinctive black mane was shot with a crossbow by Minnesota dentist Walter James Palmer. He's said to have paid $50,000 for the hunt. It's been reported that the lion was lured out of the protected Hwange National Park before being killed. Mugabe said Zimbabweans must protect what he called their country's natural resources from foreign, quote, "vandals."
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MUGABE: Some may be just ordinary visitors, but others who want to vandalize do irregularly and illegally acquire part of those resources.
QUIST-ARCTON: There has been international indignation about the killing of Cecil and a backlash against trophy hunting big game like lions. But some commentators wonder, how come this story, about an animal, is attracting global headlines while Zimbabwean people struggle with so many other human problems such as high unemployment, economic strife and political repression? Nevertheless, Zimbabwe's environment minister, Oppah Muchinguri, says Palmer, the American, must face justice.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
OPPAH MUCHINGURI: Unfortunately, it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher, as he had already absconded.
QUIST-ARCTON: The minister says Zimbabwe is seeking Palmer's extradition from the U.S.
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Dakar. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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