Zimbabwe's favourite lion Cecil killed by hunter from 'North America'

Cecil the lion. Photo / YouTube - Bryan Orford

The professional hunter admits to killing the lion with a foreign client but insists he did not know it was a well-known lion

A Zimbabwean hunter who helped shoot dead a huge lion that was a favourite with visitors in the country's Hwange National Park has said he did not realise it was a well-known lion and was "devastated" at the mistake.

The death of Cecil, who was about 13, has been strongly criticised by conservation groups.

The animal was lured about half a mile out of the national park using bait and then shot with a bow and arrow. He was found wounded by the hunters the following morning and killed, before being beheaded and skinned.

The professional hunter, who asked not to be named, admitted that he and a foreign client carried out the killing earlier this month.

"It was a magnificent, mature lion. We did not know it was well-known lion. I had a licence for my client to shoot a lion with a bow and arrow in the area where it was shot," he said.

The hunter said he reported the "mistake" to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority the following day.

The client, who is believed to have paid £35,000 for the hunt, has not been identified. There were reports on Sunday that the person was Spanish, but the Zimbabwean hunter identified him to The Telegraph as "North American".

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association (ZPHGA) confirmed that the professional hunter in the group involved in the killing was one of its members and was suspended with immediate effect.

"ZPHGA reiterates that it will not tolerate illegal hunting or other unethical practices by any of its members," the organisation said.

"Hunting at night by spot light should be banned. It is not fair and it is cruel, and the loss of this lion was a tragedy," said Trevor Lane, a veteran Zimbabwe conservationist in Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwean authorities are now searching for the head of Cecil which is expected to become a prized trophy, but they suspect it may already have been taken out of the country.