Oxford-tracked lion baited and killed just days after Cecil anniversary, sparking international condemnation and fresh calls for UK trophy import ban
A beloved lion known as “Blondie” has been shot dead by an American trophy hunter in Zimbabwe – in a chilling echo of the killing of Cecil the Lion almost exactly ten years ago.
Blondie, a dominant pride male under six years old and father to multiple cubs, was reportedly lured out of the protected Gwayi Conservancy near Hwange National Park and shot on land owned by local safari operator Dominic Muleya.
As with Cecil, Blondie was being monitored by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) as part of a long-term scientific study. Conservationists say his death is yet another brutal blow to Africa’s dwindling wild lion population.
The hunter has been named as Delvy Workman, a self-described family man and deer hunter from Ohio. A photograph of Workman grinning beside Blondie’s bloodied corpse has triggered global outrage.
Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting (CBTH), said:
“It’s sickening. Nearly ten years to the day since Cecil was cruelly killed, and it’s as if nothing has changed.
Blondie was a father, a leader, a national treasure – not a plaything for a rich Westerner with a gun. This is further proof that voluntary reforms have failed, and governments must act now.”
CBTH research reveals that more than 10,000 lions have been killed by trophy hunters in the decade since Cecil’s death. Meanwhile, LionAid estimates there may be as few as 13,500 wild lions left across the continent.
Blondie’s pride is now in jeopardy. With two litters of cubs – one less than two months old – the loss of the pride male could trigger a deadly takeover by rival males, often resulting in the killing of cubs.
The investigation also highlights the role of ultra-wealthy individuals in driving the industry. American billionaire and Trump donor Steve Chancellor is reportedly the world’s top lion trophy hunter, with 17 lions listed in Safari Club International’s record books – including one that broke the world record. He also holds the SCI record for leopard.
Gonçalves continued:
“We have the support of the public, MPs, African leaders and leading conservationists. But while Westminster dithers, lions are dying. How many more Cecils and Blondies must we lose before action is finally taken?”
Despite widespread public and cross-party political backing, the UK’s bill to ban hunting trophy imports has been repeatedly delayed – most recently blocked in the House of Lords by a small number of pro-hunting peers.
To mark the anniversary of Cecil’s death, Gonçalves has launched a trilogy of exposés – Mainlining on Heroin, 20 Elephants in 27 Minutes, and Shoot One Lion: Get One FREE – naming trophy hunters and exposing the safari companies profiting from the slaughter. The books feature forewords by Chris Packham, Priscilla Presley and Dr Jane Goodall.
A companion documentary has also been released, featuring undercover footage and damning evidence of cruelty and corruption within the trophy hunting industry.
“Ten years on, we now have the receipts, the names, the evidence,” Gonçalves said. “And yet lions are still being baited, gunned down, and stuffed. Blondie’s death is the tragic proof that little has changed. It’s time for the killing to stop – for good.”
Lions have vanished from over 90% of their historic range, with habitat loss, conflict with humans, and trophy hunting among the leading threats. Campaigners are calling for a total ban on trophy imports and a global agreement to protect endangered wildlife from exploitation.
Photo: This is not an image of Blondie, but a symbolic representation of a lion killed in similar circumstances.