Minnesotan dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil The Lion on 2nd July, 2015; ending the life of a beloved and photogenic big cat, and kickstarting his career as the internet’s most vilified trophy hunter.

Cecil, who lived in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, wasn’t just any lion - he was being tracked by Oxford scientists, and was a hit with tourists, known for his majestic black mane and his chill attitude toward safari vehicles. Palmer used a bow and arrow, returning 11 hours later to finish the kill, behead him, and leave the body to rot. 

The backlash was explosive. Palmer’s dental office, homes, and reputation were targeted with vandalism, hate mail, and death threats; his Yelp reviews are still haunted by Cecil’s ghost. While many in Africa were confused by the global outrage, Western celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel, Ricky Gervais, and Ellen turned the story into a viral cause. Palmer claimed ignorance - he didn’t know Cecil was special. But critics asked: why be okay with killing a lion at all?

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the ethics of big game hunting; investigate Palmer’s trophy-hunting past (and present); and, ten years on from this viral moment, ask if the backlash following Cecil’s death led to any positive outcomes… 

Further Reading:

• ‘Why Cecil the Lion Was So Popular With People’ (National Geographic, 2015): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/150730-cecil-lion-africa-hunting-science-animals

• ‘Cecil the lion’s legacy: five years on’ (University of Oxford, 2020): https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-12-21-cecil-lion-s-legacy-five-years

• ‘Cecil The Lion’s Death: What Really Happened Is Revealed In New Book 'Lion Hearted'’ (TODAY, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgwHH9oS3IA

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

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