WATCH: Zuma surprised Cecil the lion shooting such a big issue

South Africa President Jacob Zuma did not think the shooting of Cecil the lion would become such a big issue, News24 reported.

"What it sounds like from a distance, [is that] the hunter did not know that Cecil was so popular," Zuma told reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday.

"Really I didn't think it could become such a big issue, but it is a big issue because Cecil was loved."

Zuma said he had been told that Cecil had a brother, Jericho.

"Thank God, people will now ask is Jericho among these lions? And they will not shoot I would imagine," he said with a chuckle.