A US dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and insists that he thought he was on a legal hunt.
Police in Zimbabwe have arrested two people over the death of Cecil, the country's most famous lion, and say Mr Palmer may also face poaching charges.
But Mr Palmer, from Minnesota, said he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits.
He also said he only found out the lion's identity at the end of the hunt.
The American tourist, who is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt, is said to have shot the animal with a crossbow and rifle.
It was later skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity.
Two Zimbabwean men - a professional hunter and a farm owner - have been charged with poaching offences because the group did not have a hunting permit.
They could face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe if they are found guilty. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday.
'An activity I love'
But Mr Palmer, who is thought to be back in the US, insisted that his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt.
"I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the US but said he "will assist them in any inquiries they may have".
"Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he added.
The dental practice run by Mr Palmer was closed on Tuesday and a note was placed on the door referring visitors to a public relations firm, according to local press.
The practice's Facebook page was removed from the site after being besieged by angry comments and the company website was also taken down.
Zimbabwe, like many African countries, is battling to curb illegal hunting and poaching which threatens to make some of its wildlife extinct.
The 13-year-old lion was a major tourist attraction at the country's famous Hwange National Park.
Night-time pursuit
He is believed to have been killed on 1 July but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later.
The ZCTF said the hunters had used bait to lure him outside Hwange National Park during a night-time pursuit.
Mr Palmer is said to have shot Cecil with a crossbow, injuring the animal. The group didn't find the wounded lion until 40 hours later, when he was shot dead with a gun.
The animal had a GPS collar fitted for a research project by UK-based Oxford University that allowed authorities to track its movements. The hunters tried to destroy it, but failed, according to the ZCTF.
On Monday, the head of the ZCTF told the BBC that Cecil "never bothered anybody" and was "one of the most beautiful animals to look at".
The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed by the new male lion in the pride, Johnny Rodrigues added, in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with him.
"That's how it works... it's in the wild. It's nature taking its course," he added.
About a century ago there were around 200,000 lions roaming across Africa but that figure has dropped to less than 30,000 in recent years.
Hunting lions is legal in several countries in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, but groups must obtain a valid permit from authorities.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/29653878/palmers-dental-office-in-minnesota-turns-into-memorial-for-cecil-the-lion
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (KMSP) -
Minnesota dentist Dr. Walter Palmer was outted on Tuesday as the big-game hunter who took down Cecil the Lion, a beloved and protected cat in one of Zimbabwe’s national parks.
Animal rights and conservation groups around the world are outraged. After news broke, Palmer’s dental office in Bloomington, Minn. and the River Bluff Dental website became ground zero for the anger and disgust.
“I think they should reconsider their dentist,†one woman said. “There are plenty of other dentists in the community who are animal advocates and good people.â€
Palmer was in Zimbabwe earlier this summer when he apparently paid more than $50,000 for a license to hunt lion with professional guides. According to reports, the hunting party baited Cecil with his majestic mane from his protected confines at night. He shot the 13-year-old famed lion with a bow and arrow on July 1.
“I think a hunter in that situation is going to be very trusting of their professional hunter,†Bill Urseth, owner of the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club, said. “They’re going to the place they are told.â€
Urseth has hunted big game in Africa with licensed guides and believes they would have very much set the rules during Palmer’s outing.
“Usually very professional, and they are going to know the ground, the species, and the best way to attract and get you game,†Urseth said.
Authorities in Zimbabwe have charged Palmer’s guide and a nearby land owner with poaching in connection with Cecil’s death. They also announced they are actively looking for Palmer, threatening to arrest him for his actions.
The dental practice abruptly closed for the week, with shades drawn tight amid the firestorm. And no one appeared to be home at his house in Eden Prairie. Though, he did release a written statement on Tuesday through a hired public relations representative.
“In early July, I was in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip for big game. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits. To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted. I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt. I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have. Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.â€