Exclusive: An Inside Look at Cecil the Lion’s Final Hours

Cecil, who was being studied by scientists at Oxford University, was wearing a GPS collar when he was killed. He left behind a pride with young cubs.

Cecil and Jericho shared two prides.

Cecil enjoys a moment with a lioness. The famous lion was known for being unafraid of humans.

Cecil lived in Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe. He was allegedly lured out of the park with an elephant carcass.

Palmer shot Cecil with a bow and arrow once the lion left the park, only wounding him. Hours passed before they finished him off.

The 12-year-old Cecil was well-loved in Zimbabwe. Palmer said in a statement that he had believed the hunt was legal.

Lions in Africa have dropped in number from 200,000 to some 30,000 during the past century. After Cecil's death, nearly half a million people signed a petition for Zimbabwe to stop issuing hunting permits.