What type of people pay $55k for the "privilege" to shoot a well known lion?

(CNN)Cecil the lion is dead, killed illegally in Zimbabwe, authorities allege, by a foreign hunter or hunters who paid about $55,000 for the privilege.

Cecil was part of an Oxford University research project and wore a GPS collar.

He was lured out of a national park with food, shot with a crossbow, tracked for 40 more hours, then finished off with a gun, said Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

The 13-year-old lion's head was reportedly cut off as a trophy, and his skin was taken as well. Rodrigues told CNN that the head and skin had been found and confiscated, and were being processed as evidence.

Cecil was killed July 6, Rodrigues said, allegedly by a Spaniard. But he said that as many as three hunters may have been involved, none of whom have been detained. The nationalities of those involved have not been confirmed.

Hunters group says it respects ongoing investigation
The operator of the safari has been arrested, and a hearing has been set for August 6.

The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association confirmed in a Facebook post last week that the hunter in charge of the safari was one it its members. The association said the safari leader had been suspended indefinitely.

"The professional hunter and company he works for have been co-operative in the investigation," the association said. "ZPHGA reiterates it will not tolerate any illegal hunting or any unethical practices by any of its members and their staff."

It asked everyone to respect the ongoing investigation and said it would not comment further until the inquiry is complete.

Researchers at Oxford University expressed grief at the lion's death and at the news that, for one reason or another, he had wandered away from the protection of the national park in Zimbabwe.

"It's not many months ago that I watched Cecil, with my hand on my heart as he strayed toward a hunting concession," said professor David Macdonald, founding director of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. "On that occasion he turned back into the protection of the park, but this time he made a fatal mistake and I feel deeply sad, personally."

Macdonald said it was important to realize that lions live in complicated societies. Research has shown, he said, that if one male is killed, "the resulting perturbation" can lead to the deaths of other males and to the deaths of his cubs.

Cecil is survived by about six lionesses with whom he mated regularly and about 24 cubs, Rodrigues said.

In a statement Tuesday, Palmer said he hired professional guides who secured proper permits.

"To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted," he said in the statement.

"I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt."

Bob wrote:Another question.  What kind of low-life maggots in authority in that country would take money to allow this character or anyone else to slaughter and behead ANY lion or tiger?  Especially since these animals are close to extinction already.
It doesn't say much about them either.

Snark Spigot wrote:Yah ....

.... it's not the fault of the prick who shot the lion ....

.... it's the whole continent's fault.

They don't call it the Dark Continent for nothing, eh Joanie?

Bob wrote:Here's what's not been made clear.  
We're told this fucking terrorist paid $55,000 for the privelege of wounding the lion and then letting it suffer for a while before finally slaughtering and beheading it.

But who got the $55,000?  Obviously it can't be any African because,  as Sal says,  to think that is nothing but racism.
So which white devil crackers got the money?

Snark Spigot wrote:All Africans aren't black, dumbass.