World Lion Day 2026 saw the publication of a shocking new report which reveals trophy hunters have shot another 10,000 since the killing of Cecil by an American dentist a decade ago.
The latest figures from LionAid suggest there could now be as few as 13,500 lions left in Africa.
The report reveals the identities of trophy hunters who have shot the world’s largest-ever lions. They include Steve Chancellor, a leading fundraiser for Donald Trump’s presidential election campaigns, as well as Chancellor’s wife and son.
A staggering two-thirds of the lions shot by trophy hunters in recent years had been hand-reared in captivity and were shot in enclosed areas.
John J Jackson III, former President of trophy hunting lobby group Safari Club International (SCI), is quoted as saying: “I can plainly see the African lion that has leaped into the air the moment its head snaps backwards and explodes with smoke from my bullet.”
Safari Club International offers its members a number of prizes for shooting lions.
About the Author
