Man Allegedly Paid $55K to Kill Famed African Lion [VIDEO]

There have been terrible stories recently from Africa about elephant poaching and the decline of the black rhino. But this one goes right near the top of the "bad news" list.

Officials at Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is under fire after a Spanish hunter allegedly skinned and beheaded Africa's most famous lion, 13-year-old Cecil.

According to The Guardian, the lion was wearing a GPS tracker. Authorities say he was tricked into leaving the park, shot with a bow and arrow, tracked for 40 hours, and killed with a rifle outside the park on private land.

Here's video of Cecil taken at Hwange National Park:

The Guardian reports authorities are now on the hunt for a Spaniard who allegedly paid a park guide $55,000 for the right to kill the lion:

The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association has confirmed on Facebook that the professional hunter on the hunting permit was one of its members, and the group has deemed the act unethical and suspended the hunter's membership "indefinitely." Meanwhile, conservationists worry that as many as a dozen cubs are now vulnerable to infanticide as other males close in on the two prides led by Cecil and Jericho, a male with whom he was in coalition.

The incident apparently happened earlier this month and is just coming to light.