CECIL the lion’s brother, Jericho, has been shot dead by poachers in a Zimbabwean park.
The organisation wrote on Facebook: “It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil’s brother, has been killed at 4pm today.
“We are absolutely heartbroken.”
It is thought Jericho had been protecting Cecil’s cubs.
The murder of 13-year-old Cecil by US dentist Walter Palmer on 1 July caused outrage when it was made public earlier this week.
Mr Palmer allegedly paid park guides $50,000 to kill the lion, who was a hugely popular attraction at the Hwange National Park.
More than 140,000 signatures have been gathered for a bid to send the Minnesota dentist to Zimbabwe to face justice.
Zimbabwean authorities claim they are seeking extradition.
The county has now suspended the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants in the area while it investigates the killing of another lion in July.
A man from a private game park has been arrested over this case, officials said.
Agencies/Canadajournal