WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel slams killing of Cecil the lion

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – If you’re saddened by the death of Cecil the lion, you’re not the only one. Jimmy Kimmel reacted to the lion’s death on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! on July 28. 

Jimmy enlisted his viewers at the end of the video to make a donation to Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, which was tracking Cecil for scientific research. Since the episode aired, more than $150,000 were donated to the unit. Their director, David Macdonald, posted a message on their website on July 29, thanking Jimmy and those who made donations, saying “Thank you: for an organisation that depends on philanthropy we are deeply grateful for this support – it will be a wonderful monument to Cecil the lion if we are empowered by these donation to continue and to increase our conservation work.”

Jimmy’s feelings over the incident are clear in the video, where he says, “The big question is: Why are you shooting a lion in the first place? I mean, I’m honestly curious to know why a human being would feel compelled to do that. How is that fun?”

Cecil the lion, who lived in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, was lured out of the park and shot with a bow and arrow by an American dentist. 

As he nears the end of the spiel, he gets choked up while asking folks to support the researchers who were studying Cecil and his habits. 

Jimmy isn’t the only one who’s voiced out his opinion on the Cecil’s death. Here are a few reactions from other celebrities on social media: 

How dare you #walterpalmer !!!! As a South African and as a human being I can't express how deeply saddened I am by this, what pleasure do you get out of doing such a thing!Seeing these animals alive in their natural habitat is such a blessing, you have to be so sick to want to kill such a majestic creature of God. You come to Africa with your dollars and euros thinking you can buy power by taking advantage of Africa's poverty and paying people to help you kill an innocent creature. Disgusting! I hope you get what you deserve #walterpalmer

A photo posted by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on Jul 28, 2015 at 3:39pm PDT

 

I can't even put into words how this is making me feel, Dr. Walter J Palmer from Minnesota stay out of Africa!!!! Seriously breaks my heart. Bored idiots that think trophy hunting in Africa is a sport need to be stopped. How can we still allow people to hunt down these incredible animals. I want my kids to grow up seeing these animals in the wild, NOT on your wall….. #LetsEndThis #CecilTheLion #WalterPalmer #justice #Cecil Africa needs to unite against this.

A photo posted by Behati Prinsloo Levine (@behatiprinsloo) on Jul 28, 2015 at 9:57am PDT

 

Zimbabwe's Most Famous Lion Found Decapitated Outside National Park http://t.co/hcYhdNehWI What a loss… Why would you anyone do this?

— ian somerhalder (@iansomerhalder) July 28, 2015

 

Good RT @Vagabionda1: Backlash Forces Killer Of Famous #CecilTheLion To Close His Dental … http://t.co/KmUAePQNYf

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) July 28, 2015

 

#WalterPalmer is Satan. I don't know how anyone could go to this man for dental services after this. He is a killer. Beware!

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015

 

this man is disgusting . #WalterJamesPalmer #CecilTheLion http://t.co/zwxHslPzgg

— Shannen Doherty (@DohertyShannen) July 28, 2015

 

Ohh the dentist "had no idea" the lion was famous. Because had he known, he would never have murdered it without asking for a selfie first.

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 28, 2015

 

Famous lion or not, this cannot go on. WALTER PALMER! An example should be made. #CecilTheLion https://t.co/NMgYDRa7uZ

— Douglas Booth (@DouglasBooth) July 28, 2015

 

@Caradelevingne Hunting is a coward's pastime – thank you for speaking out against this cruelty. #CecilTheLion pic.twitter.com/kadTbkvZBw

— PETA UK (@PETAUK) July 29, 2015

 

What do you think of Cecil the Lion’s death? Tell us in the comments below! – Rappler.com