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Friday 7 August 2015

Safe from harm and cuddling up together, first pictures of Cecil the lion's cubs since he was killed by US dentist show that they are thriving under new pride leader - their uncle Jericho

Safe from harm: Cecil the lion's adorable cubs are being cared for by their late father's pride in Zimbabwe
Safe from harm and cuddling up together, these are the pictures that show Cecil the lion’s cubs - orphaned when a US dentist killed their father.
The infant lions have been adopted by their new pride leader, under the watchful eye of their uncle Jericho, in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
Cecil’s young have been seen regularly according to conservationists in the area - and have been taken under the wing of three lionesses in the pride.


Palmer has now been in hiding for more than a week after being unmasked as the fanatical American bow hunter who slaughtered the famed big cat. 
The 55-year-old was also forced to close his Minneapolis dental practice and is spending thousands of dollars a day on armed security and covert CCTV cameras after being deluged with death threats.
'Boastful': Walter Palmer, pictured, the reviled dentist who killed Cecil the lion, reportedly flashed a photo of its dead body to a barmaidSlain: Palmer killed Cecil, pictured, with a bow and arrow on a hunt in Zimbabwe on July 1
Palmer, left, was forced to close his Minneapolis dental practice after receiving several death threats over the killing of Cecil, right
The cubs were left without a father after Cecil (pictured) was killed by US dentist Walter Palmer
The cubs were left without a father after Cecil (pictured) was killed by US dentist Walter Palmer
Jericho the lion, who has been caring for the cubs of slain lion Cecil, was found to be alive and well despite rumours he had been killed by poachers
Jericho the lion, who has been caring for the cubs of slain lion Cecil, was found to be alive and well despite rumours he had been killed by poachers
The main Palmer residence in Eden Prairie, Minnesota has been closely monitored by police and has so far escaped any damage.
But their vacation home in upscale Marco Island, Florida was targeted overnight Monday when vandals sprayed the words 'lion killer' on his garage door and dumped pigs' feet on his driveway.
Officials in Zimbabwe, where Cecil was killed, have called for Palmer to be extradited to face trial for allegedly shooting the animal. 
Two days ago animal rights activists asked the Minnesota Board of Dentistry to investigate the dentist.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it filed a complaint alleging that Palmer brought disrepute to Minnesota's dental profession and should have his license revoked.
Earlier this week the professional hunter who helped Palmer slaughter Cecil dismissed the case against him as 'frivolous' and 'crazy'.
Cecil the lion (right, darker mane) fighting with a rival lion on safari at the Ngweshla Picnic site at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe
Cecil the lion (right, darker mane) fighting with a rival lion on safari at the Ngweshla Picnic site at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe
Hunter: Palmer is now under investigation after he admitted killing the lion (not pictured) in Zimbabwe
Hunter: Palmer is now under investigation after he admitted killing the lion (not pictured) in Zimbabwe

At a court in Hwange town, Theo Bronkhorst told journalists the backlash following the killing of Cecil the lion had been 'traumatic'.
He claimed he didn't even know who Cecil was at the time he assisted Dr Palmer - someone he describes as a 'good man' - kill the popular lion.
Earlier this month it was reported that Jericho the lion had been found alive and well amid reports the animal had himself been killed by a poache.
Brent Stapelkamp, a field researcher for the Hwange Lion Research Project, confirmed that the GPS-tagged lion appeared to be moving around as normal.
A field research team from Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit was also able to trace and photograph the lion.


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