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Jimmy Kimmel's Cecil the lion plea leads to $150,000 in donations

American dentist Walter James Palmer is wanted in Zimbabwe for killing the popular lion
American dentist faces outrage over death of Cecil the lion 03:07

Jimmy Kimmel's emotional plea over the killing of 13-year-old Zimbabwean lion Cecil at the hands of an American hunter, dentist Walter Palmer, on Tuesday night's airing of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" has done some good. During his heartfelt rant against the poacher, he urged viewers to donate to Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Unit (he flashed the website, wildcru.org on the screen). And it seems his fans were listening.

According to The Wrap, Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit -- which was responsible for tracking Cecil's activity and location -- received more than $150,000 donations from 2,600 people in less than 24 hours.

"Jimmy Kimmel implored his millions of listeners in the U.S.A. to make donations to support our work on lions, and conservation more widely," Wildlife Conservation Research Unit director David McDonald said on the organization's website. "We are so grateful for this and for the up-welling of support for our work worldwide."

Cecil the lion was killed on July 1 by Palmer and two local guides. Since then, the man has been called out by celebrities and organizations like PETA. Palmer, meanwhile, is staying off the grid.

Watch Kimmel's heartfelt monologue below.

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