Cecil the Lion

[dbrn]

I don't like hunting at all, but I can understand when people hunt for meat to feed their families. I can't stand how some people "hunt"; I know of some who feed the animals in the off season, then set up a tree stand so they can kill the animal when it returns to the spot where it's found food before. Disgusting. The owner of Jimmy John's also pays big bucks to hunt large animals like this (an elephant, a leopard, and some others). I made the choice to stop eating there because of it. I hope this dentist's customers will make a similar decision. I simply can't understand the allure of killing any living creature "for sport".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm pretty sure they are related and no I don't feel like starting a thread about domestic animal cruelty. Are you saying that the only reason to post on here can be to keep stating that this guy is a jerk, over and over again?

If the shoe fits...

 

[slo]

Even if this piece of dirt was duped by his guides into thinking this "hunt" was on the up and up, once he realized the the lion had a collar, the right thing to do would have been to contact the authorities and tell them what had happened. He and his tour guides should have tried to get the Lion medical aid before he shot it dead. Under no circumstances should Dr. Death have skinned and beheaded this beautiful creature. That is so beyond the pale, vile, wrong and disgusting especially since it was done with full knowledge that the lion he bagged was being tracked and lived on a reserve.

But as others have said, what kind of coward would pay all this money to hunt an animal in this fashion in the first place? Karma is a b*&&ch.

I actually thought the same thing.
Even if they had to shoot him to stop any suffering, he could have contacted the appropriate people and let them handle everything. People would have still been not happy, but at least it would appear that he tried to do the right thing.

The Field Museum in Chicago has a magnificent display of animals (all taxidermy).
I'm sure other museums have something like this, and some good that would have come out of this would be to have him put on display for people to see him up close. He's a beautiful animal and he could have been preserved for people to admire for a very very long time.

The more I think of this story the more disgusted I get

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

This low life bottom of the barrel scum tries to excuse his behavior by claiming he thought it was a legal hunt. So, shooting a beautiful, majestic animal with an arrow, allowing it to suffer in pain and fear for FORTY hours only to track it down and shoot it, skin it and behead it is ok if it is legally done? Why did they then try to remove the tracking collar to hide his evil deed? In his statement from his hiding hole he said that he regrets the death of Cecil but he was doing an activity he loves and enjoys and he thought it was legal. To me an activity is tennis, boating, swimming etc. This trophy hunting is sadistic. What possible joy could anyone get from bringing so much fear and pain to a helpless animal? I just do not understand it and tears came to my eyes when I first read about it. This, by the way is not the first time he has done something illegal while hunting. He already has another conviction. The coward was able to take down this beautiful creature with all his hunting weapons, bet it made him feel like a big man every time he scored another kill. Well, Dr. Barrel Scum now YOU will know what it is like to be the hunted one. May you lose it all and may you live out your existence looking over your shoulder every single moment of the day. There is so much hatred for him right now over social media that his life as he knew it is over.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I just heard they are worried that his cubs will be killed, due to the fact another dominate lion will try to take over the pride.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't like hunting at all, but I can understand when people hunt for meat to feed their families. I can't stand how some people "hunt"; I know of some who feed the animals in the off season, then set up a tree stand so they can kill the animal when it returns to the spot where it's found food before. Disgusting. The owner of Jimmy John's also pays big bucks to hunt large animals like this (an elephant, a leopard, and some others). I made the choice to stop eating there because of it. I hope this dentist's customers will make a similar decision. I simply can't understand the allure of killing any living creature "for sport".

Yet another boycott I can't participate in because the product is lousy and I don't buy it anyway.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

I couldn't imagine letting someone dig around in my mouth who gets off on inflicting pain. Letting Cecil walk around mortally injured for FORTY hours really says something about the guy. Every time his little metal jabber slips and he jabs you in the gums he probably gets a ... happy smile.

He's like Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors.

 

[dinolounger]

It is unclear where the dentist is right now. He's closed down all his social media accounts and not shown up at the office.

Which shouldn't surprise anyone. I'm not defending him in any shape, manner or form, but what is going on here and in other social media now is an example of a very disturbing trend, which Ron Jonson eloquently explains:

 

[sersee05]

The story made me sick to my stomach and I have thought about it all day. I understand hunting for food. I even understand hunting season to help control the amount of deer so they don't over run. I don't like it because I just don't understand killing something, but I get it. But this? So he can put a head on his wall ?? I don't understand it. I cannot wrap my brain around it. He didn't even hunt Cecil. He baited the Lion out of the park and then shined a spot lot on him. What kind of hunting is that?(not that any hunting like this is ok). Then the poor lion wasn't even killed. They tracked him for I think 40 hours and then shot him. What kind of man decides to kill something like that. What the heck is wrong with people. Then we see all of his other fantastic kills. He has a picture with a rhino. Good job ! He has a picture with another Lion. Wow your awesome! I saw one of him with a leopard. Then this horrible jerk says that he was going by what his guides said and thought it was a legal hunt. ...which makes sense as to why they tried to destroy the gps tracker. There are no words to0 describe this so called man that I can say on this board.

I hope they throw the book at him.

 

[Rhombus]

Dentist says he "regrets taking" the lion. BS...he just regrets that he and his dental practice were identified. He may not have known that this particular lion was protected, but he intentionally allowed or ordered his guides to lure a lion away from the preserve. After injuring the lion, the guides spent 40 hours tracking the wounded beast so that Mr. Big Shot Big Game Hunter could finish the job. I doubt the dentist was involved with the tracking. He probably let the guides do the dirty work, while he was relaxing somewhere waiting for a text or call to come in.

When he saw the GPS collar after the lion was killed, there's no way he didn't know this lion was protected. He could have contacted authorities and claimed it was a mistake, but instead tells the guides to skin and behead the beast. Then he skips town. Total dirtbag. The new knowledge that he has poached animals in the past certainly doesn't help his credibility.

I couldn't care less that he's getting death threats or that his business might be kaput.

 

[sersee05]

I agree that this guy is a disgusting jerk but people hunt for sheer sport here everyday. Also, why do animals being raised for food have to spend their lives tortured first? Why are we ok with that? One animal is prettier than another? Africans eat lion meat too and trophy hunting is done all the time in Africa and here.

I don't think one has to do with the other. I know for me I don't agree with trophy hunting and I am not ok with what this guy did. But that doesn't mean I am all for ugly animals being tortured.

 

[Rhombus]

I just heard they are worried that his cubs will be killed, due to the fact another dominate lion will try to take over the pride.

One story I read said the cubs may be euthanized before the new alpha male can kill them. But either way, the dirtbag dentist is responsible for more than one lion's death.

 

[sersee05]

Which shouldn't surprise anyone. I'm not defending him in any shape, manner or form, but what is going on here and in other social media now is an example of a very disturbing trend, which Ron Jonson eloquently explains:

Lol..I just noticed the cat and the toilet paper..lol I deal with that every night.

 

[Glennie5]

Dentist says he "regrets taking" the lion. BS...he just regrets that he and his dental practice were identified.

I agree - his only real regret is getting caught!

 

[kinntj]

I was first introduced to Cecil and his pride in an issue of National Geographic. A wonderful story of this famous cat and a map detailing his movements. The pictures are amazing as always and I was in awe of this majestic creature.

I was devastated to hear the news this morning and feel for the pride and the cubs left behind.

Was this dentist that dumb to trust guides who take money for sport/trophy hunting? these people would always be on the up and up.

 

[Bec3b1g]

Such a sad story. I have no issue with hunting, but what was done by this dentist shows he's no respectable hunter.Disgusting! He wasn't duped. He rightly deserves whatever comes of this.

 

[hereyago]

One story I read said the cubs may be euthanized before the new alpha male can kill them. But either way, the dirtbag dentist is responsible for more than one lion's death.

 

[ml sumner]

I to am devastated & heart broken over this story and tragic ending of such a beautiful amazing creature for such a selfish reason. I don't think he is sorry for the kill, but he will be sorry for the lasting effect that it has on his practice, life & career. RIP Cecil

 

[Micca]

Horrific.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I agree. That way he won't be able to raise the $55,000 for bribes in order to illegally poach endangered animals.

To be clear, the $55,000 has already been paid. And the guys he paid were professional hunters (what we would call hunting guides in the US) not tour, guides. These guys were credentialed, but operating outside the law.

Not making excuses for the dentist, because I fully believe he knew this was not a legal hunt. BUT, whatever you have to say bad about him, these outlaw PH's are even worse.