After you, Cecil

Since the tragic killing of Cecil, there have been numerous different arguments and opinions on managing severely depleted wild lion populations. All angles on trophy hunting, culling, poaching and conservation are flying around social media, blogs and on "mainstream" news channels.

The key fact on which to focus has to be that 'in the field' lion conservation programmes do need regular financing. In countries with corrupt governments and improper regulation, trophy hunting cannot sustain the funding required.

Tourism can work in helping conservation, but only in cases where the beneficiaries include the local communities. It is the residents who live near the protected areas who are in a position to prevent the human lion conflict - a conflict which accounts for a far more rapid decline than the odd sadistic dentist. As with pheasant-rearing woodland coppices that provide protection to hundreds of species of British wildlife, vast areas of wildlife habitat in Africa are protected because they are hunting blocks. These hunting blocks are also not necessarily areas which are as aesthetically pleasing for photographic tourism... and preventing agriculture from moving in at least sustains some more habitat - not just for lion. It is a complicated situation but the bottom line should not be a witch hunt for a sick dentist with a bow and arrow. The momentum caused by the horror of Cecil's death should serve to increase donations to the right areas and put pressure on tighter regulations in those existing hunting blocks.

So who should be the beneficiary of your donation in the wake of the horrific death of a magnificent lion? I see that Nat Geo have used the event to promote their £5 high five big cat fundraiser and already have Arnie on board. Will be interesting to see who will follow suit in the next few days. With shades of the great ALSA Ice bucket scam, the Nat Geo channel is run by 21st century Fox which immediately turns me off for obvious reasons. Whilst they claim to be funded solely by donations... how much of their budget goes to high level salaries? I don't know. But maybe Rupert Murdoch (or his sons) should be encouraged to give some of their $13 (and some) billion directly to wildlife conservation?

Better to focus on grass roots conservation projects such as Ewaso Lions which is run in the Samburu National Park, or established, respected partners with low administrative overheads who manage small projects hands on. Fauna and Flora International, Tusk Trust, Space for Giants all have lion conservation projects.

Don't sign a petition to skin a dentist. Give a few quid to a needy and worthy cause.

After you, Cecil.