Aug 3, 2015 The killing of Cecil, a Zimbabwean lion by Walter Palmer, a Minnesota dentist, has caused major uproar and widespread protest.
Cecil, who was until his death, the most popular lion in Zimbabwe, was lured out of the Hwange National Park using bait, wounded with a bow and arrow and later shot dead. This incidence has attracted death wishes and widespread criticism to the dentist over his trophy hunting.
Protester have left signs such as “Rot in Hell” and “You have no soul” to the outside door of the 55 year old avid big game hunter.
Palmer, who has since released a statement, said he had hired professional local guides who secured hunting permits and he believed the hunt was legal. He also said that he regrets killing Cecil.
His statement has however failed to pacify the angry protesters; one of whom said
“I have no forgiveness for this guy right now, all right? He doesn’t deserve forgiveness,”
Disgruntled Facebook users have left several obscene comments on Palmer’s Facebook page. One of such users wrote that they hoped Palmer’s children would “get all the bad things that life has to offer” and wished cancer on Palmer himself.
This isn’t the first time Palmer has gotten into trouble for his hunting pastime; it has been revealed that he previously faced federal charges for killing a bear outside his permitted zone, as his previous hunting escapades come under scrutiny.
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force chairman Rodrigues reported that Palmer paid Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst and Honest Ndlovu, a private game park owner, to lure 13-year-old Cecil. He added that Bronkhorst and Ndlovu will face poaching charges.