They're All Dead Dave

Outrage is a commodity served best while on fire and the media loves the flames. Cecil’s tragic death was no exception to this rule. For readers who don’t know, Cecil—a thirteen year old west African Lion—was a major attraction at Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and part of an Oxford University study. On July 1, 2015, a dentist from Minnesota (Walter Palmer) and his hunting guide (Theo Bronkhorst) killed Cecil. With the exception of people who actually live in Zimbabwe, everyone got on the moral outrage train. Apparently Cecil, with his wily and charming personality, acquired a sizable fandom.

Before we dive any deeper, a few statements about hunting. There is nothing wrong with hunting, assuming the parties involved use the entire body. Most hunters are not monsters who take inordinate amounts of joy from killing wildlife. However, hunting big game (lions, elephants, leopards, white rhinoceros, etc) isn’t impressive considering most people can fire a gun. Killing an animal with a firearm doesn’t take a herculean feat of strength or willpower. A dead deer is better than a dead African predator. I don’t have any sympathy when big game hunters are criticized. However, here are some sobering reminders to consider while we build Cecil a funeral pyre fueled by hurt feelings.


1. Hunting lions is not Illegal in Zimbabwe
2. African Lions are not on the endangered species list.
3. Oxford University’s study didn’t give Cecil special protection.
4. Palmer acted under Bronkhorst’ guidance and has publicly apologized for killing Cecil.
5. Zimbabwe is ruled by one of Africa’s crueler dictators. Mugabe has participated in the ethnic cleansing of opposing tribes, is an adamant racist and ruled his country with an iron first.
6. Cecil lived better than a majority of Zimbabweans.
7. The hunting ban around Hwange National Park was lifted nine days after Cecil’s death.
8. If evidence shows that Theo and Walter intentionally lured Cecil out of Hwange Park, then appropriate legal actions will be taken.

Social Media has resurrected the unfortunate art of public shaming. Confused? Take a gander through River Bluff Dental’s Yelp page. PETA claimed Palmer should be hanged for his “crimes,” which is ironic since they euthanize thousands of animals every year. Visceral, hateful hounding of these men illustrates an inversion of priorities. We shrug our shoulders at the misfortune of our fellow humans, but weep and lament over the death of one lion. That is pathetic, only first world people could be this separated from reality.

My words are unnecessarily harsh, but I won’t apologize for them. Palmer’s vindictive harassers are not motivated by justice or morality. Their outrage and subsequent actions are irrational. I understand if the people near Cecil—park staff, researchers or others who spent time with the lion—were angered by his killing. Despite Cecil’s international popularity, I wager most people in the States weren’t aware of his existence until after his death. This faux awareness which suddenly “enlightened” everyone is paper-thin and disgraceful. The Zimbabwean people take a proper stance on this issue: ambivalence. Lions are a menace to villages all over their county. Either villagers die to lion attacks or their cattle get eaten. Imagine fighting a lion with just a spear or a bow. Labeling lions as “majestic” depends entirely on perspective and geographic proximity. Instead of getting fired up over a celebrity lion, let’s consider the more sobering reality of African struggles and methods by which the west could ease their suffering.

Folks have a right to be angry in an abstract sense, but this hunting foul has been blown out of proportion. Thankfully the media circus has died down. Harassers please stop hounding Palmer and let the man live with his guilt. His suffering won’t bring Cecil back to life. The beast is dead; lets collectively get over it and carry on with our lives.  

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