The American Dentist Who Killed Cecil the Lion Will Not Be Charged

But earlier today, Zimbabwean Environmental Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri declared, in terms of documentation, Palmer indeed followed the rules, according to Sky News.

The country of Zimbabwe says Dr. Palmer had all his paperwork in order when he killed Cecil the Lion.

Palmer, an avid hunter, was widely criticized on social media, many users expressing outrage at the dentist.

However, two Zimbabwe citizens were found guilty -the hunting guide, Theo Bronkhorst, and a local property owner, Honest Ndlovu.

Officials had initially reported that Dr Palmer and a professional hunting guide had illegally lured Cecil out of his protected habitat onto a neighbouring farm.

Cecil, a resident of Hwange National park in western Zimbabwe, was well-known to tourists and researchers.

He came forward last month, telling The Associated Press and the Star Tribune in a joint interview that he did, in fact, kill Cecil, but echoing his previous statement that he did not know the lion was important to the country.

ZIMBABWE has called off its request for the extradition of Walter Palmer, the US dentist who shot and killed Cecil the Lion.

Muchinguri-Kashiri told reporters that Palmer was now free to visit Zimbabwe as a tourist but would not be issued a hunting permit in the country. Those disturbed by Cecil’s death made a memorial for the 13-year-old lion outside Palmer’s dental office and left messages on his door.

Mr Bronkhurst denies the charge of “failing to prevent an illegal hunt”. He was first wounded by an arrow, then was tracked for a few 40 hours before being killed with a rifle outside of park grounds. Reporters and protesters showed up at his work, forcing the dentist to close his practice over the summer and wait for the backlash to die down.

The hunters also tried to destroy the Global Positioning System collar that Cecil was wearing as part of a research project backed by Oxford University, according to the conservation group.

“I’m quite shocked to actually hear that”, said Rodriguez. Palmer said he shot the lion using an arrow from a compound bow, but it didn’t die right away.