Photo by Dex Kotze

Protect Cecil the lion’s family in Zimbabwe

The world will never forget the tragic death of Cecil the lion, who was lured from a national park in Zimbabwe and killed by a trophy-obsessed American hunter. After Cecil’s heartbreaking death, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed African lions under the Endangered Species Act—a move we hoped would save other lions from Cecil’s tragic fate. But that has not been the case. USFWS is still issuing lion trophy import permits and ignoring its own regulations to only allow imports that “would enhance the survival of the species.” Since 2018, the agency has issued 23 permits to import lion trophies from Zimbabwe alone.

And now we have reason to believe members of Cecil’s family, and in particular two brothers who are protecting the family, who all still live in the same protected area are at risk of suffering the same horrible fate as him.

Something must change before it’s too late for these majestic animals. The USFWS has shown that they are not following the best science in granting trophy import permits. Congress has taken action by including language in appropriations that would halt the import of lion and elephant trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. We demand USFWS support this proposed direction from Congress and stop allowing these imports.

TAKE ACTION

Use the form below to tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Deputy Director, Martha Williams, to support the actions of Congress and halt the import of lion trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania into the United States. As long as these hunters can bring home their trophies, lions like Cecil and his family will continue to be targeted.

This action alert is for U.S. residents. International advocates, please visit Humane Society International.

Your Message

Subject*

Principal Deputy Director

Martha

Williams

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Dear Deputy Director Williams,

Cecil the lion will forever be remembered for his sad end at the hands of trophy hunters who lured him from the protections of his park. After Cecil’s tragic death, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed African lions under the Endangered Species Act which holds them legally bound to only issue lion trophy import permits when it could make a scientific finding that such imports would “enhance the survival of the species.” However, the agency has continued to allow lion imports despite not using the best available science in granting those permits. Since 2018, the agency has issued 23 permits to import lion trophies from Zimbabwe.

In 2017, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and the Humane Society Legislative Fund wrote a letter to USFWS pointing out errors in its science, reasoning and analysis regarding its issuance of import permits for lion trophies from Zimbabwe and explaining that the agency was violating the Endangered Species Act and its own regulations. The letter was recently re-sent and includes updated evidence and calls attention to the August 2021 killing of Mopane, a pride male who was lured out of Hwange National Park and killed on the same property where Cecil was killed and reportedly organized by the same trophy hunting outfitter as the one who Cecil’s killer contracted.

While USFWS continues to pursue a business-as-usual trophy import permitting process despite evidence that trophy hunting does not aid in conservation efforts, more lions are dying unnecessarily. The U.S. House of Representatives has taken action and included language in this year’s appropriations that would halt the import of lion and elephant trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. USFWS must stop relying on outdated and incomplete data, must support this direction from the House, and must stop allowing these imports.

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