repost via @instarepost20 from @shizzyswildcatrescue
I know that we can never give Cecil his life back but we can definitely use Cecil's death as a catalyst to change the world we live in. All lives matter, including the lives of animals. "The Government of Botswana made it clear on Friday that sports hunters would not be welcome in its country as it lamented the killing of Zimbabwe’s Cecil the lion by American dentist Walter James Palmer.
Government spokesperson Jeff Ramsay said sports hunting had been banned in Botswana and last year the government had also moved to ensure that Botswana’s lions and other large carnivores were not exported to South Africa or any other country for so-called “canned hunting”.
Ramsay said his government had learnt with deep concern about the killing of the collared and protected lion which it understood had been lured from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.
“We commend the concerned authorities for acting swiftly and arresting the culprits,” Ramsay said in a statement. “We remain hopeful that they will all be prosecuted for carrying out this unjustified act.
“It is our stern belief that safari hunting of threatened species such as lions has the potential to undermine our regional anti-poaching efforts as it encourages illegal trade which in turn promotes poaching.
“To this end, individuals partaking in such sport hunting expeditions will not be welcome in Botswana.”
Ramsay clarified his statement in an interview by saying that sports hunting had been banned." http://citizen.co.za/439204/sport-hunters-not-welcome-in-botswana/
Photo of Cecil and cubs via Brent Stapelkamp