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| Zimbabwean pair at court over Cecil the lion killing | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two men have arrived at court in Zimbabwe facing charges over the killing of Cecil, the country's most famous lion. | |
| Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and farm owner Honest Ndlovu, are charged with poaching offences for not having the required hunting permit. | Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and farm owner Honest Ndlovu, are charged with poaching offences for not having the required hunting permit. |
| US dentist Walter Palmer shot the animal with a bow and rifle. | |
| Mr Palmer, who says he was unaware of the lion's identity, paid for the hunt and could also face poaching charges. | |
| The two Zimbabwean men, who accompanied him on the hunt, could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. | |
| Mr Palmer says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and believed he was on a legal hunt, saying he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits. | Mr Palmer says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and believed he was on a legal hunt, saying he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits. |
| Separately, court records have shown that the dentist has a felony record in the US after killing a black bear in the state of Wisconsin in 2006. | Separately, court records have shown that the dentist has a felony record in the US after killing a black bear in the state of Wisconsin in 2006. |
| He was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000 (£1,900), having shot the animal outside an authorised zone and then trying to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere. | He was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000 (£1,900), having shot the animal outside an authorised zone and then trying to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere. |
| Records from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry also show that Mr Palmer was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint which was settled in 2006. | Records from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry also show that Mr Palmer was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint which was settled in 2006. |
| A receptionist alleged that he had made indecent comments to her. Mr Palmer admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to pay out more than $127,000 (£81,000). | A receptionist alleged that he had made indecent comments to her. Mr Palmer admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to pay out more than $127,000 (£81,000). |
| 'An activity I love' | 'An activity I love' |
| The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe. | The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe. |
| Cecil the lion was skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity. | Cecil the lion was skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity. |
| More than 265,000 people have signed an online "Justice for Cecil" petition, calling on Zimbabwe's government to stop issuing hunting permits for endangered animals. | More than 265,000 people have signed an online "Justice for Cecil" petition, calling on Zimbabwe's government to stop issuing hunting permits for endangered animals. |
| As news of the killing and details about the perpetrator have spread online, there has been a slew of comments on social media condemning Walter Palmer, with some people calling for him to face justice. | As news of the killing and details about the perpetrator have spread online, there has been a slew of comments on social media condemning Walter Palmer, with some people calling for him to face justice. |
| Mr Palmer insists that he believed his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt. | Mr Palmer insists that he believed 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. | "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 would "assist them in any inquiries they may have". | He said he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the US but would "assist them in any inquiries they may have". |
| The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown. | The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown. |
| "Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he said. | "Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The practice's Facebook page was removed from the site after being besieged by angry comments and the company website was also taken down. | The practice's Facebook page was removed from the site after being besieged by angry comments and the company website was also taken down. |
| Cecil the iconic lion | Cecil the iconic lion |
| Night-time pursuit | Night-time pursuit |
| Cecil was believed to have been killed on 1 July but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later. | Cecil was 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. | 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 bow, injuring the animal. The group did not 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | "That's how it works... it's in the wild. It's nature taking its course," he added. |