Walter Palmer, the dentist from Minnesota who killed Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe, regrets his actions, claiming he wasn't aware that the lion he killed was protected and that he relied on the expertise of his local guides to ensure the hunt was legal.
Palmer, 55, who has a felony record in the U.S. for lying about the shooting of a black bear in Wisconsin, released a statement Tuesday after he was identified as the American involved in the killing by Zimbabwean authorities. He added that he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the U.S. regarding any charges, according to the Washington Post.
"I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt," said Palmer, according to CBS News. He later noted that, to his knowledge, everything about the trip and hunt was legal and properly handled.
Zimbabwe's Professional Hunting Association is investigating the incident, but claimed the private safari was not illegal.
The Zimbabwean government disagreed, however, and arrested the hunting guide and landowner who were allegedly involved in the incident. Those men were to appear in court Wednesday, according to officials.
Palmer killed Cecil the Lion July 6 after he, with the help of a local professional hunter, lured Cecil out of the Hwange National Park with food, shot him with a bow and arrow, and tracked him for 40 more hours before the pair killed Cecil with a rifle.
"I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he said, according to the AP.
