Why is killing a rhino in Nepal a crime but killing a buffalo for meat not a crime? As s_man23 said, it all boils down to what animals are protected because of potential extinction. Cecil was one of the most iconic protected and beloved lion in that National Park and was a main factor of booming tourism in the park. The lion was a part of a research study from Oxford university which had attached GPS on its collar. That dentist paid over 50k USD to kill Cecil not to kill just a lion. If he can't be punished legally, he can be punished online the way everyone is doing.

Do you think one can go to our Jawalakhel zoo and kill the tiger and not be punished?