Cecil the lion: Safari Club suspends membership of accused hunter

The US dentist, Walter Palmer, who killed the lion in Zimbabwe last week has been subjected to heavy criticism from around the world including condemnation from celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jimmy Kimmel. “The service’s investigation is ongoing and appreciates that Dr. Palmer’s representative voluntarily reached out to the service”.

Researchers said, after the alpha male was gone, the youngsters were at risk of being killed by the next lion in the hierarchy so he could father his own cubs with the females in the pride. Zimbabwe authorities, however, have not announced any charges against Palmer, only saying they want to speak with him and the U.S. embassy was not aware of any extradition requests. Attempts by CNBC since Wednesday to contact Palmer for a comment have resulted in no response.

News of Cecil’s death sparked outrage across the globe, and even triggered death threats against Palmer.

Cecil, who had a distinctive black mane, was a popular tourist attraction at the park and was also wearing a tracking collar as part of a University of Oxford research project.

Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri said the dentist should be handed over to Zimbabwean officials to face justice, adding that she understood prosecutors had started the legal process to make that happen. He’s an active big-game hunter and has many kills to his name.

“It was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher because he had already absconded to his country of origin”, Muchinguri said.

They then “did what had to be done” and beheaded Cecil and took his skin “as the client had paid for the trophy”.

Wildlife officials say Palmer shot Cecil with a crossbow, but he didn’t die immediately. That said, the U.S. allows about 450 lion trophies to be brought stateside from overseas each year. In one of his only public statements, Palmer said Tuesday “I deeply regret” killing “a known, local favorite” and that he relied on local guides.

The two Zimbabwean men who guided Palmer, professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and a landowner, have been arrested already.

A Minnesota dentist has been publicly condemned for killing a protected lion in Zimbabwe, and a hired guide has been charged with a crime.

His personal information has been released on social media, his dental practice shuttered, ravaged in on-line reviews and its website shut down, and now over 150,000 people have petitioned the White House calling for his extradition.

It’s unclear whether Palmer will face legal consequences in Zimbabwe or the United States.

First, it has to apply to US courts and satisfy them that Palmer committed an offence and that he would be jailed for more than a year if convicted. The hunter, Walter Palmer, used a bow and arrow to shoot Cecil, who was tracked for a second day before being shot dead.