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| Dentist killer of Cecil the lion apologises as US wildlife service launches inquiry | Dentist killer of Cecil the lion apologises as US wildlife service launches inquiry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the illegal killing of a beloved Zimbabwean lion by a Minnesota dentist, who has since found himself at the centre of an international storm. | The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the illegal killing of a beloved Zimbabwean lion by a Minnesota dentist, who has since found himself at the centre of an international storm. |
| Walter Palmer, a keen big game hunter who posts pictures of his kills on social media, is said to have paid around $50,000 (£32,000) for the chance to kill Cecil, a protected 13-year-old lion famous for his majestic black-fringed mane, in Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park earlier this month. | Walter Palmer, a keen big game hunter who posts pictures of his kills on social media, is said to have paid around $50,000 (£32,000) for the chance to kill Cecil, a protected 13-year-old lion famous for his majestic black-fringed mane, in Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park earlier this month. |
| Related: In Cecil the Lion fallout, hunters defend Walter Palmer and fear big game bans | Related: In Cecil the Lion fallout, hunters defend Walter Palmer and fear big game bans |
| The lion was reportedly lured outside the park’s boundaries and wounded with a bow and arrow, before being shot dead many hours later. | The lion was reportedly lured outside the park’s boundaries and wounded with a bow and arrow, before being shot dead many hours later. |
| Edward Grace, deputy chief of law enforcement, said in a statement to the Guardian that the service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil. | Edward Grace, deputy chief of law enforcement, said in a statement to the Guardian that the service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil. |
| “That investigation will take us wherever the facts lead,” he said, adding that the service “will assist Zimbabwe officials in whatever manner requested. It is up to all of us – not just the people of Africa – to ensure that healthy, wild populations of animals continue to roam the savanna for generations to come.” | “That investigation will take us wherever the facts lead,” he said, adding that the service “will assist Zimbabwe officials in whatever manner requested. It is up to all of us – not just the people of Africa – to ensure that healthy, wild populations of animals continue to roam the savanna for generations to come.” |
| The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing African lions as threatened under the Endangered Species Act last October. | The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing African lions as threatened under the Endangered Species Act last October. |
| Grace also urged Palmer “or his representative [to] contact us immediately,” noting that “multiple efforts to contact Dr Walter Palmer have been unsuccessful” at this point in time. | Grace also urged Palmer “or his representative [to] contact us immediately,” noting that “multiple efforts to contact Dr Walter Palmer have been unsuccessful” at this point in time. |
| Safari Club International, which promotes big-game hunting worldwide, has also suspended Palmer’s membership. The club said that it wants a “full and thorough investigation” into the lion’s death, and said memberships for Palmer and his guide in Zimbabwe, Theo Bronkhorst, will be on hiatus until investigations are complete. | Safari Club International, which promotes big-game hunting worldwide, has also suspended Palmer’s membership. The club said that it wants a “full and thorough investigation” into the lion’s death, and said memberships for Palmer and his guide in Zimbabwe, Theo Bronkhorst, will be on hiatus until investigations are complete. |
| Meanwhile, Palmer has written to his patients to apologise, as crowds gathered around his suburban practice calling for him to face charges. | Meanwhile, Palmer has written to his patients to apologise, as crowds gathered around his suburban practice calling for him to face charges. |
| In the letter to his patients at River Bluff Dental, reported by WCCO radio, the dentist said he was sorry for killing the famous beast, but described hunting as his passion. | In the letter to his patients at River Bluff Dental, reported by WCCO radio, the dentist said he was sorry for killing the famous beast, but described hunting as his passion. |
| “I don’t often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic,” he wrote. “I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.” | “I don’t often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic,” he wrote. “I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.” |
| Repeating his claim made in an earlier statement, Palmer said he had no idea the lion he killed was “a known local favourite” and said he would assist the Zimbabwean authorities. | Repeating his claim made in an earlier statement, Palmer said he had no idea the lion he killed was “a known local favourite” and said he would assist the Zimbabwean authorities. |
| “The media interest in this matter – along with a substantial number of comments and calls from people who are angered by this situation and by the practice of hunting in general – has disrupted our business and our ability to see our patients,” he wrote, adding that he would work with patients to have them referred to other practices. | “The media interest in this matter – along with a substantial number of comments and calls from people who are angered by this situation and by the practice of hunting in general – has disrupted our business and our ability to see our patients,” he wrote, adding that he would work with patients to have them referred to other practices. |
| Palmer, 55, has not been charged with any offence, although Zimbabwean officials have said they would like to question him. The US Fish and Wildlife Service was investigating whether any US laws were violated in the lion’s killing and would assist Zimbabwean officials, a spokeswoman told Reuters. | Palmer, 55, has not been charged with any offence, although Zimbabwean officials have said they would like to question him. The US Fish and Wildlife Service was investigating whether any US laws were violated in the lion’s killing and would assist Zimbabwean officials, a spokeswoman told Reuters. |
| Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst has been charged with “failing to prevent an illegal hunt” after he organised the expedition. His co-accused Honest Ndlovu was charged with allowing an illegal hunt on his land. Both have been bailed. | Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst has been charged with “failing to prevent an illegal hunt” after he organised the expedition. His co-accused Honest Ndlovu was charged with allowing an illegal hunt on his land. Both have been bailed. |
| About 200 people protested on Wednesday outside Palmer’s suburban Minneapolis dental office, calling for him to be extradited to Zimbabwe to face charges. | About 200 people protested on Wednesday outside Palmer’s suburban Minneapolis dental office, calling for him to be extradited to Zimbabwe to face charges. |
| “Walter, you are a murderer, you are a terrorist,” said Rachel Augusta, coordinator at the Animal Rights Coalition which organised the protest. | “Walter, you are a murderer, you are a terrorist,” said Rachel Augusta, coordinator at the Animal Rights Coalition which organised the protest. |
| Hours before the protest began on Wednesday afternoon, artist Mark Balma parked his Land Rover outside the dental clinic to paint a large portrait of Cecil, to quietly protest the animal’s killing. | |
| “I really, really thought it was both so unnecessary, but also in today’s world, very shameful in the way it was done,” Balma told the Guardian. “He had a certain rapport with people. There was a sort of trust – a human trust. That was the huge thing that to me, was violated. They used that trust against him to lure him out.” | |
| Balma, who has painted portraits of British prime ministers, including Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, based his painting of Cecil off the many images circulating online. | |
| Balma said the protests provided an inspiring atmosphere to paint. | |
| “On one hand, there’s a lot of anger and a lot of disgust in what happened,” he said. “But it was a strong community showing there.” Some people, he said, drove hours to protest. Balma is not from Bloomington, but happened to be there before the protest began. | |
| Police are investigating threats made against Palmer, but because most were online, authorities are having trouble determining if the threats are credible. | |
| Palmer’s current location is unknown. A small memorial of stuffed animals has been placed outside the clinic’s door, with signs saying “Rot in Hell” and “Palmer there is a deep cavity waiting for you!” | Palmer’s current location is unknown. A small memorial of stuffed animals has been placed outside the clinic’s door, with signs saying “Rot in Hell” and “Palmer there is a deep cavity waiting for you!” |
| The governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, weighed in to criticise Palmer. “It’s an iconic lion,” Dayton told reporters. “To lure the animal out of the preserve, I don’t understand how anybody thinks that’s a sport. I just think it is horrible.” | The governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, weighed in to criticise Palmer. “It’s an iconic lion,” Dayton told reporters. “To lure the animal out of the preserve, I don’t understand how anybody thinks that’s a sport. I just think it is horrible.” |
| Palmer has been under official scrutiny for his hunting in the past, pleading guilty in 2008 to lying about a black bear hunt in Wisconsin two years earlier, for which he was fined and sentenced to one year’s probation. | Palmer has been under official scrutiny for his hunting in the past, pleading guilty in 2008 to lying about a black bear hunt in Wisconsin two years earlier, for which he was fined and sentenced to one year’s probation. |