Cecil's brother guards his cubs

In this undated photo provided by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Cecil the lion rests in Hwange National Park, in Hwange, Zimbabwe. Photo / AP

When Cecil the lion was hunted down and killed by a US dentist, it was feared the slaughter would not stop there.

Cecil's six youngest cubs, warned experts, could be killed off as rival males moved in to take over his pride.

But it seems the youngsters have found a new champion. Observers have spotted another adult male who appeared to be protecting the cubs from attack.

The lion had been spotted with the pride in Hwange national park, Zimbabwe, before Cecil's death and it is thought he is either a brother of Cecil or his former ally in the pride, Jericho.

Professor David Macdonald, from the Oxford University team which had been tracking Cecil, said the Wildlife Conservation Unit had been inundated with calls about the cubs.

He said: 'The natural law in lion society is that when a male dies and his weakened coalition is usurped, the new incoming males kill their predecessors' cubs. This may not happen because Cecil's brother is still holding the fort.'

His colleague Andrew Loveridge said the new male lion could be Cecil's former ally Jericho, who was not related to Cecil.

Cecil teamed up with Jericho in early 2013 to establish a pride and the pair became the dominant males in their area, and were photographed together just a month ago.

There had been fears that Jericho himself could turn on Cecil's cubs and kill them to encourage the pride's lionesses to breed with him.

Cecil, named after colonialist Cecil Rhodes is thought to have fathered 12 cubs, although any older male cubs would typically have left his territory once they reached maturity. There has been a confirmed sighting of his younger cubs this week.

The illegal killing of Cecil - he was wounded by a bow and arrow and finally shot 40 hours later - has prompted worldwide outrage and seen thousands of wildlife lovers donate money to the Oxford University project.

Donations have topped £300,000 - enough to fund further research in Hwange for two years. The project had tracked Cecil since 2008 and his territory inside the national park meant he was protected.

Zimbabwe says it has begun the process of trying to extradite Palmer, who is in hiding.