In The Darkness Of Cecil's Death, Jane Goodall Sees Light
After the tragic news broke over Cecil the lion's death, the internet has been flurried with a mixture of mourning and dentist-bashing. A source of stability in the chaos, Jane Goodall speaks out about Cecil's death as only she can in her always calm, clear and passionate voice.
While many have found it hard to articulate what we should do now that Cecil is dead and his killer is still free, Goodall sees the light: "Only one good thing comes out of this – thousands of people have read the story and have also been shocked. Their eyes opened to the dark side of human nature."
Here is her full statement, released on Wednesday by The Jane Goodall Institute.
I was shocked and outraged to hear the story of Cecil, Zimbabwe's much loved lion. Not only is it incomprehensible to me that anyone would want to kill an endangered animal (fewer than 20,000 wild lions in Africa today) but to lure Cecil from the safety of a national park and then to shoot him with a crossbow...? I have no words to express my repugnance. He was not even killed outright, but suffered for hours before finally being shot with a bullet. And his magnificent head severed from his wounded body. And this behaviour is described as a "sport." Only one good thing comes out of this – thousands of people have read the story and have also been shocked. Their eyes opened to the dark side of human nature. Surely they will now be more prepared to fight for the protection of wild animals and the wild places where they live. Therein lies the hope.
JaneGoodall.org
See below for more of The Dodo's coverage on Cecil.
Cecil The Beloved Lion Beheaded By Dentist Who Paid $55,000 To Find Him
Lion Killer Dentist Writes Letter To Patients About His Passion For Hunting
Everyone Hates The Lion-Killing Dentist. Now What?
Lion Killer Dentist Is Having The Worst Day Ever
Jimmy Kimmel Tears Into 'A-hole' Dentist Who Killed Cecil The Lion
Cecil's Death Just Got More Depressing: His 12 Cubs Will Probably Die Now
We Can Do A Lot More To Save Lions Than Sign Petitions For Cecil (Community)
Here's What Arnold Schwarzenegger Has To Say About Hunting Lions