US agency probes possible legal violation in lion killing: source

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating whether the killing of a beloved lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe was part of a conspiracy to violate a U.S. law against trading in some wildlife, a source close to the case told Reuters on Thursday.

The probe will determine if a Minnesota dentist involved in the killing was involved in a conspiracy that would violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits trade in wildlife that has been illegally killed, transported or sold, the source said.