Celebrities share outrage at killing of protected lion Cecil

[Warning: contains distressing images]

The killing of Cecil the Lion – one of the most famous animals in Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park – by American dentist and big game hunter Walter Palmer has sparked outrage after the male lion was allegedly baited off the reservation and shot with a bow and arrow. Cecil was 13 years old and is survived by six lionesses and 12 cubs.

On Twitter, celebrities including well-known animal rights supporter Ricky Gervais are leading both the mourning…

RIP #CecilTheLion
I'm struggling to imagine anything more beautiful than this pic.twitter.com/lile3Kb2dk

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015

…and the backlash.

It's not for food. It's not the shooting, or tin cans would do. It must just be the thrill of killing. Mental. http://t.co/0fjtXoC1ML

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015

Some are overwhelmed with grief.

Crying over #CecilTheLion. Famous animal or not, if you're paying money to go kill animals for fun, you are beyond contempt.

— Felicia Day???????? (@feliciaday) July 28, 2015

Some couldn’t see how Walter Palmer could continue in his profession, wondering who would accept the fingers that had killed Cecil into their mouth.

#WalterPalmer is Satan. I don't know how anyone could go to this man for dental services after this. He is a killer. Beware!

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015

Others settled for simply insulting Palmer.

There are so many ways to be a fucking idiot in the modern world. https://t.co/hWrEcvjCe0

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) July 28, 2015

This asshole. Why would anyone want to kill a lion for fun? What is wrong with people?

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 28, 2015

Louis Theroux had a top tip for potential big game hunters.

A good rule of thumb for hunters would be not to shoot any animal that has a name. It's asking for trouble. #WalterPalmer #CecilTheLion

— Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) July 29, 2015

But the rest were trying to find whatever small comforts they could.

Me and my little lion wish you a peaceful night. pic.twitter.com/Xb52ckffhr

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015