When Cecil the lion was killed with a bow and arrow by a US trophy hunter, his pride of three lionesses and seven cubs were left without protection. But 15 months later conservationists in Zimbabwe are upbeat after two of the lionesses accepted a new male as the pride's leader."The lion is known as Bhubhesi and has been pursuing the lionesses for more than a year, since after Cecil was killed," said guide Lewis Mangaba, whose photographs this week in Hwange National Park showed the new alliance hunting together at sunset."Up until now there has been conflict between them. He has tried to steal their kills and they could not trust him," Mangaba told MailOnline."The fact that they are now allowing him to mate with them, to be around their young, means that there is an element of trust towards him to keep them safe."It does give us hope that this means greater security for Cecil's pride."US dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil in July last year after paying more than R800,000 for the hunt. Elephant meat was used as bait and Palmer's shot wounded Cecil.He was tracked by a professional hunter who shot him dead 11 hours later...