Walter James Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, is accused of killing, beheading and skinning a beloved 13-year-old lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe. This lion was a local favorite and was often photographed standing, reclining or playing. Apparently photographing such a magnificent animal was not part of Dr. Palmer's plan. Authorities allege that his hunting crew baited the collared lion out of a protected reserve into a neighboring farm so Palmer could kill it. It is also alleged that he paid $50,000 for his fun outing.
It is being reported that this smiling/balding dentist shot Cecil with a bow and arrow then pursed the wounded animal for 40 hours before finishing the dirty deed with a gun. Cecil was wearing a GPS collar as part of a conservation study by Oxford University, which allegedly the hunters tried to destroy after the kill.
Dr. Palmer is facing poaching charges, according to Zimbabwean police spokeswoman Charity Charamba. In the meantime, he is losing in the court of public opinion and being wounded in his wallet. Click here to read his Yelp reviews and click here to see his Facebook page. Dr. Palmer should have simply stayed in Minnesota and let this lion live a long and good life on the reserve in Africa. Instead he allegedly chose to travel great distances to commit his ugly kill.
This big game hunter said, "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. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt."
Very interesting. ABC News reports that, "According to U.S. court records, Palmer pleaded guilty in 2008 to making false statements to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about a black bear he fatally shot in western Wisconsin. Palmer had a permit to hunt but shot the animal outside the authorized zone in 2006, then tried to pass it off as being killed elsewhere, according to court documents. He was given one year probation and fined nearly $3,000."
It seems that Dr. Palmer is a serial animal killer. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has stated that "Palmer is listed as a member of the trophy hunting organization Safari Club International. His profile on SCI's website lists 43 kills, including caribou, moose, deer, buffalo, a polar bear and mountain lion."
The Star Tribune also reports that, "In 2009, Palmer agreed to a settlement with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry over allegations that he sexually harassed a receptionist. She alleged that Palmer made comments about her breasts, buttocks and genitalia. Without admitting guilt, Palmer settled and paid $127,500 to the woman, who also was his patient. The settlement included references to his bear-hunting conviction and 'substandard record keeping.'"
There was no discussion of the adequacy of Dr. Palmer's own genitalia, but I have my suspicions.