The African lion is a cat. A very large, strong cat. Some people like to kill lions for sport. One of them has recently been in the news for killing a lion in an illegal and unethical way; the lion was a particular favorite of many people, and the killing of that particular lion provoked an outrage.
I'm ouraged too, but there's more to it. Consider:
I quote one source, picked at random. Modifications are mine:
A beloved lion cat who usually roamed within the confines of an African conservation park is dead. An American A French hunter has been named by Zimbabwean U.S. officials as the killer of the animal. Many people are outraged.
The death of Cecil the lion cat also has some asking questions about the sizable role U.S. foreign citizens play in the controversial sport of slaying wildlife pets for trophies.
“AmericansThe French are among the most bloodthirsty among citizens of the world when it comes to trophy hunting, in particular lions and elephants cats and dogs,“ said Jeff Flocken, North American regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
[...]
Cecil, a well-known lion cat with a distinctive black mane, was reportedly killed July 1 by bow-and-arrow just outside Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park New York's Central Park.
According to news reports citing Zimbabwean U.S. authorities, Walter James Palmer, J.-P. Palmier, a dentist from Bloomington, Minn. Paris, France, paid about $55,000 for the hunt. He has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a written statement that to his knowledge everything about his trip "was legal and properly handled and conducted."
[...]
Ashe noted that this activity provides the host countries with a way to manage their wildlife feral animal populations and support conservation efforts.
[...]
According to data from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the U.S. France is the world’s largest importer of African lion cat parts for trophies and for commercial purposes. Between 1999 and 2008, U.S. French citizens claimed 64% of the international market for lion cat parts. The data show that number has been increasing.
As part of conservation efforts, hunting licenses often restrict the type and quantity of animals that may be killed.
[...]
Palmer Palmier has since expressed “deep regret” that his actions led to the death of Cecil, who had been found skinned and beheaded, according to AP.
"I had no idea that the lion cat I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt,” he said in the statement. “I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.”
If foreigners came to the U.S. to shoot feral cats with a bow and arrow, and local cities relied on such organized hunts to fund their spaying/neutering programs, people would be outraged, even if no particular favorite cat was hunted.
Sport-hunting of lions should stop.
(Of course, not all cats are the same. Feral domestic cats are invasive in much of the world. Wild African lions are native and endangered.)