Cecil The Lion To Become Beanie Baby, For Conservation

(CBS) – Cecil the Lion – the king of the jungle allegedly killed by an American big game hunter last month – is being memorialized as a plush toy.

Ty Inc. founder and chairman Ty Warner announced Monday that his Westmont-based company has designed a Beanie Baby in Cecil's honor. All proceeds will benefit WildCRU, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of University of Oxford, which had been studying Cecil. The toy is expected on the market later this year.

"Hopefully, this special Beanie Baby will raise awareness for animal conservation and give comfort to all saddened by the loss of Cecil," Warner said in a news release.

A Minnesota dentist allegedly engaged in an illegal hunt in Zimbabwe last month, resulting in the death of Cecil. The dentist has been the subject of international scorn since the story broke.

The toy is expected to go sale next month for $5.99.