Zimbabwean authorities hunt Spaniard accused of killing Cecil the lion

European allegedly paid a50,000 for chance to kill tourist attraction, who was found headless after being shot with a bow and arrow and tracked for 40 hours

Authorities in Zimbabwe are trying track down a Spaniard who allegedly paid park guides a50,000 (35,000) for the chance to kill Cecil, one of Africa's most famous lions, who was the star attraction at the Hwange national park. The creature was found skinned and headless on the outskirts of the park.

The 13-year-old lion was wearing a GPS collar as part of a research project that Oxford University has been running since 1999, making it possible to trace its last movements when it was tricked into leaving the park and shot with a bow and arrow. The hunters then tracked the dying animal for 40 hours before they killed it with a rifle.