A Minnesota dentist, Walter Palmer, has been identified as the hunter who killed Cecil the lion, a beloved attraction for wildlife tourists in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean police have warned that Palmer faces poaching charges, and the incident has sparked a furious backlash on social media.
Cecil, known for his black mane and aged about 13, was lured outside Hwange National Park using bait and shot with a bow and arrow. He is believed to have taken 40 hours to die. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force alleged that Palmer and professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst hunted at night and tied a dead animal to their vehicle to attract the lion.
In a statement, Palmer confirmed he had been in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip in early July, saying he had hired professionals and secured all proper permits. He claimed he had no idea the lion was a known local favourite and part of a study until after the hunt. Palmer expressed regret but maintained the hunt was legal.
The lion was wearing a GPS collar as part of an Oxford University research project. The hunters allegedly tried to hide the collar after killing Cecil. The head of the lion has been located in Zimbabwe and impounded as evidence. Palmer reportedly paid $50,000 for the kill.
Palmer's dental clinic in Bloomington, Minnesota, has been flooded with angry comments and threats on social media. An online petition demanding justice for Cecil has gathered over 12,000 signatures. Palmer, who is married with two children, was on probation for lying to authorities about the location of a previous elk kill.
