'Beloved' lion is shot dead after being lured from reserve by trophy hunter in chilling $46k kill

Trophy hunters are reported to have brutally killed a lion that was being monitored by researchers.

The five-year-old lion called Blondie had been fitted with a GPS collar just three months ago by the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU).

The collar, which was sponsored by Africa Geographic, was fitted to 'track free-roaming lions, prevent human-wildlife conflict, and support long-term conservation'.

Blondie resided in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park in South Africa.

Animals within the boundaries of the park cannot be hunted. However, Blondie is believed to have been lured out of the park by hunters to be killed despite the fact he was wearing a research collar and being below the minimum hunting age of six — a prospect that still baffles many as a lot of people who believe trophy hunting should be banned full stop.

A lion seen resting at Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe (Christopher Scott/Getty Stock Image)

While suspicious, the hunters behind the killing claim it was done 'ethically' and that they had the required permits. Allegedly, the trophy hunter who shot Blondie paid $46,000 to do so.

A harrowing photo of a corpse believed to be that of Blondie's with three men knelt next to it has been shared to social media. The snap shows a Black man alongside two white men in camouflage clothing. It was posted to Facebook and later deleted, The Sun reports.

Africa Geographic boss Simon Espley has spoken out in the wake of Blondie's untimely death.

A now-deleted photo on Facebook showed the hunters kneeling by Blondie's body (Facebook)

"As the sponsor of Blondie’s research collar, we are dismayed and angered by this development," he said.

"That Blondie’s prominent collar did not prevent him from being offered to a hunting client, confirms the stark reality that no lion is safe from trophy hunting guns. He was a breeding male in his prime, making a mockery of the ethics that [Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association] regularly espouses and the repeated claims that trophy hunters only target old, non-breeding males."

The ZPGA's website states that it looks to promote 'honourable and sportsman like conduct generally in practice of the profession and sport hunting' — if there was such a thing.

It also aims to 'maintain the highest standard of professionalism in safari hunting and guiding'.

Blondie's killing is expected to have a devastating impact on his pride, which included three females and 10 cubs. Now, his youngest offspring are at risk of being killed by rival males without Blondie there to protect them.

Hwange National Park hosts over 100 mammal and 400 bird species (Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Stock Image)

The lion was last seen on June 2025 before allegedly being lured over a period of several weeks to a hunting-friendly area outside the park.

Tributes have been rolling in for Blondie in light of his death.

Roar Wildlife News said (via The Sun): "Another beloved lion, another shattered pride, another trophy just for someone’s wall.

"Blondie was a striking lion and one of Hwange’s most recognisable figures and was gunned down in the prime of his life after being lured out from a safe prohibited hunting area.

"This is not the first time Hwange has been robbed of one of its stars. The world still remembers Cecil, baited and killed, under eerily similar circumstances a decade ago."

Mike Blignaut, the co-owner of Victoria Falls Safari Services, insists that the hunt was 'legal and conducted ethically', as does the Professional Hunter (PH) involved in the hunt.

Elsewhere, people have taken to social media to express their devastation about Blondie's passing, with one person branding those behind the lion's shooting as 'utter scumbags'.