Cecil the Lion's Son Killed by Trophy Hunter Expedition

Cecil the Lion's son was killed by big game trophy hunters in Africa two years after the famous father lion’s death at the hands of an American dentist sparked international outrage.

Xanda was killed on July 7 outside the Hwange National Park in northwest Zimbabwe, according to The Telegraph in London. Researchers had been tracking the 6-year-old lion with an electronic collar.

Xanda's killing site was not far from where his 13-year-old father was killed in 2015.

Zimbabwe professional hunter Richard Cooke, the leader of the expedition, returned Xanda’s tracking collar to researchers after his death, said the Telegraph.

Agence France-Presse said the hunter who actually killed Xanda has not been named, but added that trophy hunting remains big business with thousands being paid to kill lions and other wild animals.

"I fitted (the collar) last October," Andrew Loveridge of the Department of Zoology at Oxford University told The Telegraph about efforts to monitor Xanda and other lions. "It was monitored almost daily and we were aware that Xanda and his pride were spending a lot of time out of the park in the last six months, but there is not much we can do about that.”

"Richard Cooke is one of the 'good' guys. He is ethical and he returned the collar and communicated what had happened. His hunt was legal and Xanda was over six years old so it is all within the stipulated regulations."

Cecil's killing caused controversy in 2015 because the lion was a popular attraction for visitors at the national park, reported AFP. Minneapolis dentist Walter Palmer shot Cecil with a high-powered bow and arrow and was hounded on social media afterwards.

Palmer temporarily went into hiding after protesters picketed his dental practice after killing Cecil, noted AFP. He had paid $55,000 for the hunt that was determined to be legal.

News of Xanda's death sparked outrage on Twitter.

Unfathomable! When is this sanctioned murder going to be outlawed!! #CecilTheLion #WWF https://t.co/VfA9fN5Fqy

— Nigel Etherington (@nigel_islapower) July 21, 2017

Please stop the killing of innocent lions. Protect the #lions of Hwange National Park. In memory of #CecilTheLion #Xanda Roam in peace 🦁

— sunny (@itssunny) July 20, 2017

#Xanda son of #CecilTheLion shot and killed by a pathetic #TrophyHunter#BanTrophyHunting pic.twitter.com/i5Khl1ebxr

— Louisa Pearson (@louisa1000) July 20, 2017

Famed lion #Xanda, cub of lion #CecilTheLion, was killed by trophy hunters in #Zimbabwe. They won't be happy until the whole family is dead. pic.twitter.com/oIk2XjEdnm

— Daniel Schneider (@BiologistDan) July 20, 2017

Related Stories:

Walter Palmer, Cecil the Lion's Killer, Cleared in Zimbabwe

Cecil the Lion Suffers 40 Hours After Bow-and-Arrow Ambush