A US dentist who killed a lion in
Zimbabwe says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and insists that
he thought he was on a legal hunt.
Police in Zimbabwe have
arrested two people over the death of Cecil, the country's most famous
lion, and say Mr Palmer may also face poaching charges.
But Mr Palmer, from Minnesota, said he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits.
He also said he only found out the lion's identity at the end of the hunt.
The
American tourist, who is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000)
to go on the hunt, is said to have shot the animal with a crossbow and
rifle.
It was later skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity.
Two
Zimbabwean men - a professional hunter and a farm owner - have been
charged with poaching offences because the group did not have a hunting
permit.
They could face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe if they are found guilty. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday.
'An activity I love'
But Mr Palmer, who is thought to be back in the US, insisted that his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt.
"I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He
said he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the US but
said he "will assist them in any inquiries they may have".
"Again,
I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice
responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he added.
The dental practice run by Mr Palmer in Bloomington, Minnesota, was closed on Tuesday
Cecil was a major tourist attraction at Zimbabwe's famous Hwange National Park
The dental practice run by Mr
Palmer was closed on Tuesday and a note was placed on the door referring
visitors to a public relations firm, according to local press.
The
practice's Facebook page was removed from the site after being besieged
by angry comments and the company website was also taken down.
Zimbabwe,
like many African countries, is battling to curb illegal hunting and
poaching which threatens to make some of its wildlife extinct.
The 13-year-old lion was a major tourist attraction at the country's famous Hwange National Park. Night-time pursuit
He is believed to have been killed on 1 July but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later.
The ZCTF said the hunters had used bait to lure him outside Hwange National Park during a night-time pursuit.
Mr
Palmer is said to have shot Cecil with a crossbow, injuring the animal.
The group didn't find the wounded lion until 40 hours later, when he
was shot dead with a gun.
The animal had a GPS collar fitted for a
research project by UK-based Oxford University that allowed authorities
to track its movements. The hunters tried to destroy it, but failed,
according to the ZCTF.
On Monday, the head of the ZCTF charity told the BBC that Cecil "never bothered anybody".
"He was one of the most beautiful animals to look at," Johnny Rodrigues said.
The
six cubs of Cecil will now be killed by the new male lion in the pride,
Mr Rodrigues added, in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with
him.
"That's how it works... it's in the wild. It's nature taking its course," he said.
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