This was the year of Cecil the Lion. The enormous male, the leader of his own pride, was well known among researchers and tourists for his shaggy black mane. But when Cecil was killed by an American dentist visiting Zimbabwe on a big game hunt, the lion became famous around the world. For weeks after, the public heard over and over how Cecil had been illegally lured out of a national park, wounded with an arrow, stalked for 40 hours, then shot dead.

The public was outraged. “Justice for Cecil” became a rallying cry. Debates over trophy hunting ensued, and donations to conservation groups soared.

Cecil’s death changed the public’s perception of wildlife exploitation, but growing