JERICHO THE LION is alive and well, it has been confirmed.

File photo Shutterstock Shutterstock

Last night there were reports he had been shot dead by a poacher.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) reported the lion was killed at 4pm yestrday.

However, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority today said that Jericho is alive. The organisation also emphasised Jericho is a ‘coalition’ partner to Cecil, not a blood-related sibling.

Jericho WildCRU WildCRU

Oxford’s Wildlfire Conservation Unit said: “Many people have asked if Jericho and Cecil were brothers. They were not related though their bond was one close to brotherhood.”

Male lions often form what are termed co-operative ‘coalitions’ with unrelated males in order to better compete with other males for territories and prides.

Brent Stapelkamp is monitoring Jericho as part of the Lion Research Project.

Cecil’s killing sparked an international outcry and Zimbabwean authorities called it an illegal hunt. The country is looking to extradite Walter Palmer, a US dentist who allegedly paid $50,000 (€45,000) to kill the lion.

A different lion

ZCTF apologised for its error, saying it had received three separate confirmed reports that Jericho.

“We apologize for reporting that he had died but were confident that our sources were in fact correct.” [sic]

The group claimed a different lion was killed.

“This was a case of mistaken identity, but a lion has in fact been killed. Although we are relieved that it was not Jericho, we are not happy that yet another lion has been killed.”

With reporting by AP

Read: Confusion over whether Cecil the lion’s brother has been shot dead