Cecil the Lion's Brother Jericho Killed by Illegal Hunters

UPDATE: Zimbabwe officials have confirmed that Jericho has NOT been shot and he is alive and well.
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More sad news has come out of Zimbabwe – Cecil the Lion‘s brother Jericho has been killed by illegal hunters just days after the beloved animal’s killing.

What makes this story even more sad is that Jericho had been protecting the cubs of his brother Cecil following his death.

“It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil‘s brother has been killed at 4pm today,” the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said in a statement (via the New York Daily News). “We are absolutely heartbroken.”

No other details are known right now.

Pictured below: Cecil (the lion with the darker mane) and Jericho playing with each other in photos taken in May 2014.