Cecil The Lion: Hunter Who Paid $50,000 To Kill Cecil Identified As American Dentist

A dentist from Minnesota has been identified as the hunter who killed Cecil the Lion July 6 at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

Walter Palmer paid a Hwange park ranger $55,000 for the opportunity to kill the famed lion. It is believed he lured the lion out of Hwange National Park before shooting him with a bow and arrow.

After 40 hours, professional hunter Theo Bronkorst found the suffering animal and finished him off with a rifle, beheading and skinning the animal to use as a trophy, according to Mashable.

Two independent sources confirmed Palmer's identity to the Telegraph, which also saw a copy of the relevant hunting permit.

Bronkorst, a professional hunter with Bushman Safaris, helped Palmer in Cecil's pursuit, and reportedly claimed he admitted the incident to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority because he made a "mistake."

Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu are both under arrest and due to appear in court Aug. 6 to face poaching charges, according to AFP.

"Both the professional hunter and landowner had no permit or quota to justify the offtake of the lion and, therefore, are liable for the illegal hunt," said the Zimbabwe National Parks.

Bronkhorst claimed he was unaware of Cecil's fame. "It was a magnificent, mature lion. We did not know it was [a] well-known lion. I had a license for my client to shoot a lion with a bow and arrow in the area where it was shot," he told the Telegraph.

However, many dismiss their claims of innocence, saying not only did they lure Cecil outside of a protected habitat, but they also tried to hide the lion's tracking collar.

Palmer is now facing serious backlash over social media due to his actions.

While no legal consequences have been addressed for Palmer thus far, his business is now in serious trouble.

Tags

Poaching, Hunting, Illegal hunting, Lion, Dentist, Minnesota