A New Jersey lawmaker said he plans to introduce legislation that would curb the sport killing of potentially threatened or endangered animals after a Minnesota dentist killed a popular lion during African hunting expedition.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., announced Friday the CECIL, or Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies, Act would extend restrictions on the import and export of animals under consideration for inclusion on the Endangered Species Act.

The proposed legislation comes after Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer stalked and killed a popular African lion named Cecil while on a hunting trip in Zimbabwe. Officials said Palmer and his guides lured the animal out of the protected Hwange National Park. Friday, Zimbabwe officials called on the United States to extradite Palmer to face charges for violating poaching laws.

"Let's not be cowardly lions when it comes to trophy killings," Menendez said in a written statement. "Cecil's death was a preventable tragedy that highlights the need to extend the protections of the Endangered Species Act. When we have enough concern about the future of a species to propose it for listing, we should not be killing it for sport."

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