The two appeared at the Hwange magistrate’s court, about 435 miles (700 kilometers) west of the capital Harare.
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The American allegedly paid $50,000 to hunt the lion, Zimbabwean conservationists said, though the hunter and his local partners maintain they didnt know the lion they killed was protected. I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have.
Dr. Walter J. Parker has faced public outrage after the Minnesota resident killed a beloved African lion, Cecil, earlier this month.
He said he paid professional guides for a private safari to stalk the 13-year-old lion and kill him.
Cecil, aged about 13, was said by safari operators to be an “iconic” animal who was recognised by many visitors to Hwange due to his distinctive black mane.
“He never bothered anybody”, “He was one of the most lovely animals to look at.” said Johnny Rodriguez, the head of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.
The lion is believed to have been killed on July 1 in western Zimbabwe’s wildlife-rich Hwange region, its carcass discovered days later by trackers, the statement said. The lion, which lived on protected national parkland, was lured out of its sanctuary – and was shot by the bow hunter.
Two Zimbabwean men have already been arrested in connection with the lion’s killing, which has reignited debate about trophy hunting in Zimbabwe.
In 2008, Mr Palmer was found guilty of making a false statement to federal wildlife officials concerning the exact location of the slaying of a black bear during a guided hunt in Wisconsin.
The hunt has also sparked anger online, with some internet users posting scathing or sarcastic reviews on the Yelp page for Palmer’s dentistry practice.
Palmer released a statement on Tuesday saying he “had no idea” Cecil was a local favourite until the end of the hunt, which took place on July 1.
“I hired several professional guides, and they secured all proper permits”, Palmer said.
Palmer eventually shot but only wounded the lion with an arrow, and the hunters tracked for 40 hours before finding and killing him with a gunshot.
“All persons implicated in this case are due to appear in court facing poaching charges”, the statement said.
The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed by the new male lion in the pride, according to the conservation charity. In a New York Times story on elk hunting in 2009, Palmer said he learned to shoot at age 5 and had slain all but one of the animals recognized by the Pope and Young Club, an arbiter of bow-hunting records. The poachers allegedly tried to destroy the collar, but were unsuccessful.
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RODRIGUES: Well, we got the information that the hunt – there was no quota, no license or permit for that area and that the people that actually lured the animal didn’t have a permit.
