Last year, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the African Lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in October 2014, but has yet to finalize any protections.
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He was killed July 1 by a Minnesota dentist in an incident that sparked worldwide outrage and calls for criminal charges.
The extradition treaty between the US and Zimbabwe is broad, but mainly focused on things such as organized crime, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
“They (U.S. courts) may actually doubt the competence of the judiciary here to try him in an objective manner particularly given these prejudicial pronouncements that the politicians are already making”, said Muchadehama.
Muchinguri also said Palmer’s use of a bow and arrow to kill the lion, who is said to have been lured out of Hwange National Park with bait before being shot, was in contravention of Zimbabwean hunting regulations. They tracked him down and found him 40 hours later when they shot him with a gun.
“There has been an outcry”, Muchinguri said. “We ask that Dr. Palmer or his representative contact us immediately”, Grace added. “For inquiries regarding any law enforcement aspects of the case, we refer you to the Government of Zimbabwe or the Department of Justice”.
“I was heartbroken along with so many Americans who are mourning the bad killing of the lion Cecil by a man from Minnesota“, she begins in her piece. We have certain processes we have to follow.
Palmer’s guide, professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst, and a local farm owner were arrested in the lion’s death.
The 55-year-old has remained in hiding amid global uproar over the killing, and had reportedly received death threats.
” “[Palmer] had a well-orchestrated agenda which would tarnish the image of Zimbabwe and further strain the relationship between Zimbabwe and the U.S.A.
Following such proceedings, “it’s the Secretary of State who makes the final decision on whether to extradite an individual”, he said.
Zimbabwe has a poor history in regard to human rights, but the U.S. would not be allowed to consider the treatment of the suspect under the “rule of noninquiry”, according to Cevallos.
If convicted, Bronkhorst faces up to 15 years in prison.
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The Zimbabwean environment minister’s remarks come as pressure mounts stateside for Palmer’s extradition. “I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting”, he wrote in the letter, which added that he would “resume normal operations as soon as possible”. He has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing on the part of the hunting guides, though several experts have called that assertion into question. The hunter in Zimbabwe and the landowner upon which the hunt took place have both been apprehended by the African nation’s wildlife authorities.
