After the death of Cecil the Lion, non-profit organization group, Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force reported on Saturday that Jericho, "Cecil's brother," who has been taking care of "Cecil's cubs" was also killed by another hunter.
However, National Georgraphic reports that Jericho is in fact still alive and is not Cecil's brother.
"Jericho was seen alive and well at 06.15am.," said director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), David Macdonald. "He has been feeding on a giraffe kill with the lionesses from his pride."
"Jericho is large male lion, about 11 years old, who has been intensively monitored as part of our detailed study of lion behavioural ecology in Hwange National Park," he added.
Cecil The Lion’s Cubs Being Protected By His Brother, Jericho, Since His Death! https://t.co/XX8VGC9ptd pic.twitter.com/wF0i4DFbxC
— 9GAG (@9GAG) August 1, 2015
The WildCRU team also noted that Jericho is not actually related by blood to the 13-year-old black-maned cat, which headed two prides before he was illegally shot and killed by American dentist, Walter J. Palmer.
"Many people have asked if Jericho and Cecil were brothers," Macdonald pointed out. "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."
WildCRU researcher Brent Stapelkamp explained the cubs aren't actually identified on whether they were Cecil's, in a park with an estimated 24 cubs and six other lionesses.
"We can only assume who the father is," said Stapelkamp, who has been observing the lion since 2008. "Jericho would look after them even if they were Cecil's."
This report followed the scare when Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force announced the "breaking news" on Saturday. "It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil's brother has been killed at 4pm today," the non-profit organization posted on Facebook. "We are absolutely heart broken."
"This was a case of mistaken identity, but a lion has in fact been killed," The group apologized for reporting Jericho's death on Sunday. "Although we are relieved that it was not Jericho, we are not happy that yet another lion has been killed."
Nat Geo added that the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has suspended hunts of lions, leopards and elephants outside Hwange Park.
