US Dentist Declared Wanted For Killing Africa's Most Famous Lion, Cecil (Photos)

Death threats have been sent to the American dentist who killed Cecil - Africa's most famous lion in Zimbabwe earlier this month.

 

An American dentist, is being declared wanted in connection with a case that has drawn international attention - the killing of Cecil, Africa's most famous lion at Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.

The suspect is Walter James Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, according to Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

The prime suspect, Dr. Walter J Palmer

13-years old Cecil, was a prized lion in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where visitors reportedly sighted him frequently. A video of the animal, regal, indifferent and sleepy-eyed, has been widely disseminated.

A police official in Zimbabwe said that two Zimbabweans had been arrested in the case and that police were looking for Palmer. The Zimbabweans are, Honest Trymore Ndlovu and Theo Bronchorst, and they were due in court on Wednesday.

According to reports, the American suspect, Walter Palmer paid $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil with a bow and arrow. The incident occurred around July 6, with a professional hunting outfit reportedly luring Cecil outside the boundaries of the protected reserve using a dead animal as bait.

“Mr. Palmer shot Cecil with a bow and arrow but this shot didn't kill him. They tracked him down and found him 40 hours later when they shot him with a gun. Cecil, who was known all over the world would have earned millions of dollars just from sightseeing. Walter Palmer apparently paid $50,000 for the kill.

The saddest part of all is that, now that Cecil is dead, the next lion in the hierarchy, Jericho will most likely kill all Cecil's cubs so that he can insert his own bloodline into the females. This is standard procedure for lions." Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said in a statement.

Zimbabwean Theo Bronkhorst (left) & Honest Ndlovu (right) in court on poaching & the death of Cecil

 

Death threats have been sent to the American amid growing anger over the protected animal's slaughter. The hunter's office and practice website have become a target for animal rights activists disgusted by the dentist's actions.

Celebrities including models Cara Delevingne and Candice Swanepoel have also blasted the dentist, calling him a 'poor excuse of a human being'.

Palmer claims he had trusted his local guides to meet legal guidelines on his trip to Africa, during which he shot Cecil with a crossbow on July 1 before skinning and beheading him.