Xanda the Lion shot dead by game hunter just 2 years after his father was killed

It’s such a bad day in the jungle when a big game hunter killed Xanda, the son of Cecil the Lion, barely two years after his father was killed.

The 6-year-old male was shot just outside Hwange National Park in north west Zimbabwe, just near same sport where Cecil was killed 2 years ago.

Authourities identified Xanda as the oldest of Cecil cub, as electronic tag was fitted it.

American trophy-hunter Walter Palmer, from Minnesota, paid £45,000 to hunt and shoot Xanda’s majestic father, easily recognisable by his black mane which helped make him Hwange’s biggest tourist draw.

The 12 year-old cat, which was found beheaded and skinned near Hwange National Park, wore a collar and was a key part of an expensive research project monitored by Oxford University.

The dentist was forced into hiding for weeks following his shooting of Cecil which prompted an international outcry. Charges against Dr Palmer were later withdrawn.

Last year, pictures emerged showing seven of Cecil’s offspring – five females and two males by three lioness mates – basking in sunshine.

But today, it emerged that one of them, Xanda, himself a father to several young cubs, had also been killed by a big game trophy hunter in Zimbabwe.

An image purportedly showing the animal, was posted along with a message announcing the death on the Facebook page of the Lions of Hwange National Park group.

The group said: ‘Xanda is still a young father at 6.2 years old and has several young cubs. We can’t believe that now, 2 years since Cecil was killed, that his oldest Cub Xanda has met the same fate.

‘When will the Lions of Hwange National Park be left to live out their years as wild born free lions should…?’