Emerging facts shed new light on Cecil the Lion
Investigators in Zimbabwe looking into the escape of Cecil the Lion from a national preserve and his subsequent death are finding a more complex picture than originally thought.
Former Texas veterinarian Kristen Lindsey, an expert on bow hunting for feral cat control said, "The first thing you need to ask yourself is 'why was this lion named Cecil in the first place?'"
Indeed. The country of Zimbabwe was formerly white-ruled Rhodesia, named after British mining tycoon Cecil Rhodes in 1895, after whom the Lion "Cecil" was apparently named. The end of white rule in Rhodesia is seen by many white supremacists as a significant defeat, as most recently demonstrated by the photograph of Charleston shooter Dylan Roof wearing a jacket decorated with the Rhodesian flag. It is not known at this time whether Roof and Cecil the Lion may have been in contact with each other.
Investigators also point to the fact that by leaving the park, Cecil's presence in the neighborhood where he was shot was definitely suspicious, particularly at night. "We gave Cecil a whole park to roam around in, but these seems to be another case where generosity only resulted in an ungrateful desire for more territory," Lindsey added.
Some residents near the park believe Cecil closely resembles a lion that was recently seen stalking area convenience stores. Said one neighbor, "I don't know if it was Cecil, but it had four legs and golden fur. Those lions all look alike to me anyway, and they're usually up to no good." Others familiar with the incident say that Cecil was "mouthing off" to local hunting guides who stopped Cecil to ask him why he was wearing a radio tracking collar. "We didn't know whether Cecil may have been violating probation, or whether perhaps the radio collar was stolen from another animal," a guide said, adding, "But instead of just explaining what he was doing outside of the park at night and where he got the collar, Cecil started making threats and was belligerently uncooperative with a routine stop."
Preliminary toxicology reports also indicate that Cecil had a high level of THC in his blood, and he may have been making a late night visit to a supplier. Some of the other animals in the park said that Cecil had a reputation as a small time dealer, and would regularly shake down wildebeest for loan repayments.
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I don't know, but I suggest we wait until all the facts are in before reaching any conclusions.
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