US agency probes possible legal violation in lion killing

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel joined countless others who have expressed outrage on social media that an American dentist shot and killed Cecil the Lion, a 13-year-old cat who was considered a national treasure in Zimbabwe. Spokesman Josh Earnest said the petition had exceeded the required 100,000 signatures. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits.

Federal wildlife officials are now officially investigating Walter Palmer and his admitted killing of Cecil the lion, an act that has infuriated activists and animal lovers across the globe.

During the night-time hunt, the Zimbabwean men tied a dead animal to their auto to draw the lion out of a national park, said Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

The plea urges the extradition of hunter Walter Palmer to Zimbabwe to face authorities over his actions.

In his statement to the Star Tribune Tuesday, Palmer said that he had not been contacted by U.S. or Zimbabwean authorities, and that he “deeply regretted” killing Cecil.

“It’s so cruel, but I don’t understand the whole fuss, there are so many pressing issues in Zimbabwe – we have water shortages, no electricity and no jobs – yet people are making noise about a lion?” said Eunice Vhunise, a Harare resident.

A retired University of Alabama coach is defending the sport of hunting big game animals but he has no sympathy for the Minnesota dentist under fire for allegedly poaching a protected lion in Zimbabwe.

“They hunted some of their own species to extinction and they have really taken on this agenda and they are going to be chairing a conference in 2016 just as we chaired the conference last year, which Prince Charles played a big role in”.

Mr Palmer has not been charged in Zimbabwe or the United States.

But Mr Palmer remained out of the public eye, as crowds left plush toys of lions, tigers and monkeys at his River Bluff Dental practice in Minnesota. The hunters tried to destroy the lion’s tracking collar but failed. Dr. Palmer has closed down his dental office and is now in hiding. “I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt”, the statement said. If convicted, the two men would be required to pay $20,000 in compensation but the court may impose an additional jail term.

People have turned that office into a makeshift memorial to the slain lion, leaving stuffed animals outside its glass doors.

Protesters have gathered outside the building carrying placards saying “Justice for Cecil”, “Trophy hunters are cowards” and “Killer”.