Lion kills tour guide in park where Cecil lived

A lion has killed a tour guide in the same park which was home to Zimbabwe's most prized lion Cecil, who was shot by a US hunter last month.

Professional guide Quinn Swales was on a walking safari in Hwange National Park with six foreign tourists when he was attacked.

The male lion was wearing a GPS collar and is thought to be called Nxaha.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) said: "The guide spotted fresh lion spoor and decided to track a pride of lions.

"It consisted of two females, two males and two cubs One of the lions known as Nxaha was collared.

"Nxaha jumped out at Quinn but alll efforts to save Quinn were in vain."

Police are investigating the case but it was not immediately clear whether Swales was armed. None of the tourists were injured.

Nxaha could now be hunted and shot but as yet no decision has been made on this.

The slaying of Cecil the lion sparked a worldwide backlash against the African hunting industry.

Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and game park owner Honest Ndlovu have been charged over Cecil's death.

But US dentist Walter Palmer actually shot the lion and there are calls for the 55-year-old to be extradited to face trial.