So the @$$hole apologizes for killing the lion
 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/29/africa...e-lion-killed/

I think all these big game trophy hunts should be illegal and punished by heavy, heavy fines and imprisonment. Most of the animals they are hunting are endangered or at least well on their way to being endangered. I read that this prick killed a white rhino and there's only one male white rhino left in the world.

And there was that woman who shot a giraffe--why the f would you shoot a peaceful creature like a giraffe? Did it block your sunlight? Does it make you feel powerful to kill an animal that doesn't harm anything

Jimmy Kimmel tears up talking about it:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/richardhjame...gp#.ctr2B2vWn4

This has really had an impact on me. I took a few hours out today to paint a tribute piece.

http://i.imgur.com/830OZUX.jpg

The guy deserves everything he has coming to him but let's hope some good comes from it as well. For those who seek pleasure in murder and bloodsport, you will be held accountable for your actions.

That is so beautiful!!!

If anyone is wondering why the death of one lion matters...

because it will likely lead to the death of many more lions and their numbers are already dwindling. It's not because hew as famous or a tourist attraction.

http://blogs.discovery.com/bites-ani...n=AnimalPlanet

It's just despicable to me that they lured him out of a protected area to shoot him, let him suffer for 40 hours, shoot him again, and then skin him and behead him. That's not "sport." That's criminal.

From predator to prey: Here's a Big LOL Award, Dr. Palmer, for becoming the victim of the world's first "Bill Cosby-ing!"

https://www.rocktivity.com/Graphics/bigLOL.gif

That's beautiful - thanks. It made me tear up :( The best I can say is "Karma is a Bitch"

And the very nasty corollary is that his cubs might not survive. There are 6 of them. So that one person is responsible for the deaths of 7 lions - horrible.

The link I posted said that it would also likely result in the death of Jericho's cubs because Jericho would unlikely be able to stop another coalition from being able to take over and kill the cubs of the predecessors. :(

Nature can be horribly cruel but even it pales in comparison to the depths of cruelty that some people will sink. :(

I know it's never been the 'done' thing but I just wish there were a way to step in and remove the cubs from the situation and raise them in a protected environment. They may never be able to be released into the wild, but conservation has to be a better option than allowing them to die, surely?

And thank you for the compliments on the artwork. If the despicable people involved in trophy hunts want something to hang on their walls, why choose to destroy something beautiful to satisfy that desire when they can quite easily choose to have a painting instead?

That's great!

This is the same thought I had but apparently it's considered "nature's way" and so I doubt they will do anything. First they would have to locate the pride and capture the cubs, not sure how quickly a new male lion would try a takeover. I also heard a conservationist say if a female tried to protect the cubs, she could possibly be killed also. It's just sad all around. :(

Aloha !

I'm going to go off topic here, but how was that made? I don't see any paint daubs, nor do I see crayon texture. Is that because of the scan, or was it done by a pen pad in Photoshop? :)

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

It's a digital painting, Seb. Bought a new pack of brushes not long ago and this is the first piece that I've had the opportunity to use them. It's a mixture of simulated soft watercolour brushes and ink spatter pens.

I've also changed the quote to one I came up with that I feel is more fitting for the piece:

"Let us give a voice to the voiceless so that they may strike at the hearts of the heartless."

Getting back on topic though, did anyone see this?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rweb/w...9da_story.html

There really are no depths to which the depraved members of our species will not sink. :(

Aloha !

Cheers for the answer, had a feeling it was. Still good though, I've never done anything like that, don't have the patience for it.

This is true, but there's also a large amount of parks all over Asia and Africa trying to take care of this, protecting the animals. A lot of good is done as well, and awareness is bigger compared to a decade ago. The issue however is that the penalties on trading animals are just not high enough to scare away potential buyers and poachers. And if everyone who cared so much about the death of a lion would donate 10 dollars, they'd be able to track down thiefs and help animals a lot better as well.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

Sounds like Cecil's brother is holding off any aspiring new alpha males at least for the time being.

New York Daily News:

He’s their mane man.

The lion cubs left fatherless in Zimbabwe by the cruel killing of 13-year-old jungle beast Cecil are surviving in the wild under the watchful eye of their uncle.

Typically, rival males will kill the cubs of the pride’s alpha male once he dies — but Cecil's brother is providing his young nieces and nephews with some protection.

This is very good to hear - I don't want to hear about any more lions dying needlessly in the next week or two.

https://gma.yahoo.com/cecil-lions-br...opstories.html

Get ready to have your heart broken. Jericho has been shot and killed too which means the cubs will have no chance of survival unless someone takes them into a refuge.

I am truly at a loss for words. They need to start shooting people on site as the current deterrents are just simply not working. :(

Now reports are coming in that the lion wasn't Jericho. Here's a statement from the person who's actually monitoring his GPS:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world...-10432714.html

Yeah, I'm not seeing anything on the major news sites about it.

Daily Mail:

Jericho the lion, (who) has reportedly been protecting slain Cecil’s cubs since his death, is alive and well...

(A) field researcher for the Hwange Lion Research Project has confirmed that the GPS-tagged lion appears to be moving around as normal. A field research team from Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit was able to trace and photograph Jericho early this morning.

(The) chairman for (the) Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force told MailOnline: "It was a case of mistaken identity, and we can confirm that it wasn't Jericho that was shot. But we have still lost a lion, who was shot by a poacher yesterday..." (A) man has been arrested for the shooting.

The group added that while Jericho is not Cecil's biological brother, the two had developed a bond that was like brotherhood...Cecil arrived at the park as a kind of lion refugee, alone and wandering after being displaced from another territory. Cecil befriended...Jericho, and together they grew and watched over two prides, one with three lionesses and seven cubs and another with three lionesses...

So it was a CO-alpha male situation! Having already been forced out by more powerful males, Cecil was able to convince Jericho that ruling jointly would be more beneficial than one or both being killed or exiled in a battle for supremacy. And it certainly paid off: While Cecil is dead, his bloodline isn't; and by the time any future cubs of Jericho's mature, they'd be next in line to take over leadership from Cecil's. A lesson that some rock bands I can think of can learn, LOL!

Very true and very happy to hear the rumours were false.

I was spurred into doing another painting today after seeing Aaron Blaise's work (check his art out, it's insane!). He paints wildlife including big cats so I put this together in 4hrs or so. Apologies for the slight deviation in topic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10...psfwthnyty.jpg

That is really awesome!!!

Thanks, Becky. You should really check out Aaron's work. He used to work as an animator and artist at Disney, working on 'The Lion King,' 'Aladdin,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' as well as directing 'Brother Bear,' and 'The Hare and The Bear,' John Lewis Christmas ad from a couple of years ago.

www.creatureartteacher.com

His gallery is simply stunning.

Some of the things I've seen said about the man by the anonymous strangers behind their Facebook account are nearly as appalling as his actions. I'm not saying what he did is acceptable in any regard, but I've seen countless people who want him to die in a horrible manner.

Sure, he definitely ought to get heavy fines and/or imprisonment, but he doesn't deserve to be publicly hanged or skinned alive like I've seen some of my Facebook peers say...

You'll always get over-reaction to an emotive subject like this. Whilst I'm not condoning killing perpetrators, unless they are caught in the act at the time but then it's as much about protecting oneself (52 rangers were killed last year) as it is about hammering home a major deterrent, I think hefty life terms of imprisonment need to be considered. The two hunt organisers could face up to 15 years in prison for the illegal hunting of Cecil and personally, I think 25 years should be nearer the benchmark for effectively pushing a species a massive step towards extinction for a short-term financial gain.

This is a welcome news story to wake up to this morning as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33767771

Small steps but it's a good start.

News/ The Internet Is Banding Together to Take Down the Dentist That Killed Cecil the Lion

http://fr.eonline.com/news/680898/th...cecil-the-lion

Couldn't resist doing another one last night.

"Ghost Walk"

http://i.imgur.com/vGz6tLY.jpg?1