The US dentist who generated an
outcry after killing a lion called Cecil in Zimbabwe has returned to his
dental practice after weeks in hiding.
Walter Palmer arrived at work at 0700 local time (1200 GMT) where a throng of media and a few protesters awaited him.
Employees were seen escorting Mr Palmer and patients into the surgery, as photographers swarmed the office.
In recent interviews, he has claimed that the hunt was legal and that he was shocked to hear the animal was famous.
Police
were present as the dentists parked his vehicle on a nearby street and
walked into his office in Bloomington, Minnesota. A staff member
clutched his arm as the pair pushed past a group of journalists.
One woman could be heard screaming "Extradite Palmer!"
At the scene - Laura Bicker, BBC News, Minnesota
"We
need to thank Dr Palmer", shouts one protester, "we need to thank him
for waking us up". For the half a dozen demonstrators here, Cecil the
Lion has become a poster child.
Some say they'd never heard of
trophy hunting before Cecil hit the headlines. One lady tells me she
felt so strongly she is protesting for the first time in her life.
She
holds aloft a handwritten board which reads "Roar for Cecil". They are
polite. No shouting, screaming or jostling. A mostly quiet but
determined presence.
Dr Palmer has said a few carefully chosen
words to the local newspaper, perhaps in the hope he could go back to
work without a fuss. But for now, he is still a wanted man.
Mr Palmer did not speak to the media on Tuesday, but did give an interview to the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Sunday.
"I
need to get back to treating my patients," Mr Palmer said. "My staff
and my patients support me, and they want me back. That's why I'm back."
The killing of Cecil in July prompted a global uproar, which Mr Palmer has claimed led to "some safety issues" for his family.
His clinic and his home in nearby Eden Prairie became the site of protests, and his holiday home in Florida was vandalised. Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Cecil was well known in the Hwange National Park
Image copyrightAPImage caption
Notes were left on his front door
Image copyrightAPPolice did not consider the protesterss
The
55-year-old is believed to have been paid $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt a
lion in Zimbabwe's largest game reserve, but he says he was unaware it
was so famous.
"If I had known this lion had a name and was
important to the country or a study obviously I wouldn't have taken it,"
Mr Palmer said. "Nobody in our hunting party knew before or after the
name of this lion."
Cecil was well known in the Hwange National
Park and was being tracked with a GPS collar as part of a research
programme run by Oxford University.
The Zimbabwe's safari
organisation has said the way in which Cecil was lured out of a national
park was unethical and possibly illegal.
Initially, Zimbabwe sought to charge and extradite Mr Palmer, but the government's interest in him has waned in recent weeks.
The
Associated Press news agency reported that government officials fear it
could hamper a hunting industry that is lucrative and important for the
country.
Lions in Africa
35,000
Max estimated lion population
12,000
Max lion population in southern Africa
665 Approx number of 'trophy' lions killed for export from Africa per year
49 Lion 'trophies' exported from Zimbabwe in 2013
0.29% Contribution to GDP of Zimbabwe from trophy hunting
Zimbabwe's wildlife authorities on Saturday
announced restrictions on hunting around the country's biggest game
reserve following the killing of a much-loved lion by a US dentist.
"Hunting of lions, leopards and elephant in areas
outside of Hwange National Park has been suspended with immediate
effect," Edson Chidziya, head of Zimbabwe's parks and wildlife authority Zimparks, said in a statement.
The parks body also suspended hunting with bows and arrows, except with permission from the authority's head.
"All such hunts will only be conducted if confirmed and authorized in
writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority, and only if accompanied by parks staff," Chidziya
said.
The clampdown follows an international furore over the killing of
Cecil the lion, a favourite with international tourists, who was shot with a bow and arrow by Walter Palmer outside Hwange Park in early July.
The lion, which lived in the park, was lured outside its boundaries by bait.
After shooting the feline, Palmer, who was accompanied by local guide
Theo Bronkhorst, then trailed the injured beast for 40 hours before
finishing him off with a gun.
The death of the iconic lion, renowned for his distinctive black
mane, sparked global outrage, with some animal rights activists calling
for Palmer's death.
Bronkhorst is due to appear in court on August 5 on a charge of "failing to prevent an illegal hunt".
Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has meanwhile appealed for the
United States to extradite Palmer so he can be brought to justice.
Chidziya said the authority had joined forces with the police in a crackdown "to weed out any undesirable elements".
"The Authority will not hesitate to arrest, prosecute, and ban for
life any persons including professional hunters, clients and land owners
who are caught on the wrong side of the law," he said.
The US dentist who killed a lion in
Zimbabwe should be extradited to face charges, Zimbabwe's Environment
Minister Oppah Muchinguri has said.
Walter Palmer's extradition was being sought so that he could "be held accountable for his illegal action," she said.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service was contacted by a representative of Mr Palmer on Thursday.
The contact comes as US authorities continue to investigate the hunt.
Mr Palmer, from Minnesota, is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt the lion, known as Cecil.
He says he thought the hunt was legal and was unaware Cecil was protected.
At a news conference in the capital, Harare, Ms Muchinguri referred to Mr Palmer as a "foreign poacher".
"As
we frantically try to protect our wildlife from organised gangs such as
this one, there are people... who can connive to undermine Zimbabwean
laws," she said.
"One
can conclude with confidence that Dr Palmer, being an American citizen,
had a well-orchestrated agenda which would tarnish the image of
Zimbabwe and further strain the relationship between Zimbabwe and the
USA," Ms Muchinguri added.
She also said Mr Palmer's use of a bow
and arrow against Cecil was in contravention of Zimbabwean hunting
regulations, Reuters reports.
Cecil the lion
A major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest game reserve
The 13-year-old animal was renowned for being friendly towards visitors
Recognisable because of his large size and distinctive black mane
Led two prides containing six lionesses and 12 cubs along with another lion, Jericho
Was being monitored as part of an Oxford University study into lion conservation
What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabweans Licensed to kill: When hunting is not poaching Two Zimbabwean men have been implicated in the death of the lion.
A
professional hunter has been charged with failing to prevent an illegal
hunt - which he denies - and prosecutors are deciding on the exact
charges the landowner should face.
"I don't believe I failed in
any duties at all, I was engaged by a client to do a hunt for him and we
shot an old male lion that I believed was past his breeding age," the
Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst told the AFP news agency.
Tracking the pride
There has been a huge online backlash against Mr Palmer. The dental practice he runs in Minneapolis has been closed since he was named as the hunter who shot Cecil.
Cecil wore a collar that researchers at Oxford University used to track him
On Thursday, the White House
said it would review a public petition to extradite the American dentist
after more than 100,000 signed it.
But spokesman Josh Earnest said it was up to the US justice department to respond to any extradition order.
Meanwhile, US billionaire philanthropist Tom Kaplan has agreed to match every dollar donated to the UK conservation unit which was tracking Cecil until he was killed.
He capped the offer to Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at $100,000 (£64,000).
US officials have launched an
investigation into the killing of a lion in Zimbabwe but say they have
been unable to reach the American involved.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said it was "deeply concerned" about the "tragic" death of Cecil the lion.
Director Dan Ashe said they will "go where facts lead" but efforts to reach Walter Palmer have been unsuccessful.
Mr Palmer says he thought the hunt was legal but two Zimbabwean men have been arrested over the popular lion's death.
The
dental practice he runs in Minneapolis has been closed since he was
named as the tourist who shot Cecil, Zimbabwe's most famous lion.
Protesters
gathered outside the building on Wednesday, carrying placards saying
"Justice for Cecil", "Trophy hunters are cowards" and "Prosecute
poachers".
On Thursday, the White House said it would review a
public petition to extradite the American dentist after more than
100,000 signed it.
But spokesman Josh Earnest said it was up to the US justice department to respond to any extradition order. What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabwe When is hunting not poaching?
Earlier, the FWS said: "We are currently gathering facts about the
issue and will assist Zimbabwe officials in whatever manner requested."
"At
this point in time, however, multiple efforts to contact Dr Walter
Palmer have been unsuccessful," it said, saying Mr Palmer or his
representative should contact them immediately.
"It is up to all
of us - not just the people of Africa - to ensure that healthy, wild
populations of animals continue to roam the savannah for generations to
come," the statement said.
The whereabouts of Mr Palmer is
currently unknown, but he is thought to have returned to the US after
Cecil was killed on 1 July.
'Life-long hunter'
In
a letter to his patients, the dentist said he would assist authorities
in Zimbabwe or the US in their inquiries and apologised for the
disruption to the clinic.
The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe.
Prosecutors
in Zimbabwe have charged the hunter who supervised Mr Palmer's outing,
Theo Bronkhorst, for killing a lion not authorised to be hunted. If
convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
The country's safari
organisation also said the way in which Cecil was lured out of a
national park was unethical and possibly illegal.
A second suspect, farm owner Honest Ndlovu, was also arrested but is yet to be charged.
Lions in Africa
35,000
Max estimated lion population
12,000
Max lion population in southern Africa
665 Approx number of 'trophy' lions killed for export from Africa per year
49 Lion 'trophies' exported from Zimbabwe in 2013
0.29% Contribution to GDP of Zimbabwe from trophy hunting
17% Of Zimbabwe's land given to trophy hunting
AFP
An international hunting organisation suspended the memberships of
both Mr Palmer and Mr Bronkhorst on Thursday, saying it wanted a "full
and thorough investigation" into the lion's death.
Safari Club
International, which promotes big-game hunting worldwide, said "those
who intentionally take wildlife illegally should be prosecuted and
punished to the maximum extent allowed by law".
Cecil, who was a
major tourist attraction at Zimbabwe's largest game reserve in Hwange
National Park, was being monitored by UK-based Oxford University as part
of a conservation programme.
The animal is believed to have died
on 1 July, but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later.
It had been skinned and beheaded.
Analysis: The view from Africa - BBC Monitoring
Cecil's
killing has attracted little media attention inside Africa. What little
comment there was came in the form of derisive editorials in Zimbabwean
state media.
"Not since Simba, of The Lion King fame, has a lion
captured the world's imagination in this way," Alex Magaisa wrote in
the Zimbabwean Herald newspaper. While tragic, the lion's death has not
inflamed local passions because it is "far removed from the lived
realities of most of the local people," he added, saying that tourism
and hunting in Zimbabwe are "mired in elitism".
The writer said neither he nor his family had heard of Cecil the lion before it was killed.
Kennedy
Mavhumashava struck a similar note in the Zimbabwe Chronicle and
invoked the history of Western colonialism: "Many believe the lion was
named after Cecil John Rhodes, the celebrated forerunner of British
colonialism in Southern Africa, explaining the saturation coverage on
the demise of his namesake."
A US dentist who killed a lion in
Zimbabwe has apologised to his patients in Minnesota for the disruption
caused by the anger directed at him.
Walter Palmer's dental
practice in Minneapolis has been closed since he was named as the
tourist who shot Cecil, Zimbabwe's most famous lion.
Two Zimbabwean men have been charged over the death and local police say Mr Palmer may also face poaching charges.
He says he thought the hunt was legal and was unaware Cecil was protected.
'Divisive topic'
In
a letter sent to his "valued" patients on Tuesday, Mr Palmer said he
had been in the news "for reasons that have nothing to do with my
profession or the care I provide for you".
He described himself as
a "life-long hunter" but said he rarely discussed his passion with
patients "because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic".
Echoing
an earlier statement, he insisted that he thought the hunt was legal
and said he would assist authorities in Zimbabwe or the US in their
inquiries.
Cecil, who was a major tourist attraction at
Zimbabwe's largest game reserve in Hwange National Park, is believed to
have died on 1 July, but the carcass was not discovered until a few days
later. How the internet descended on Walter Palmer When is hunting not poaching?
A protest against Mr Palmer is planned to be held outside his dental practice on Wednesday
Experts say Cecil's six cubs are likely to be killed by the male lion who takes over the pride
Mr Palmer is said to have shot
and injured the animal with a bow and arrow. The group did not find the
wounded lion until 40 hours later, when he was shot dead with a gun.
The lion was later skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity.
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 had tried to destroy it but failed, according to the ZCTF.
Mr
Palmer's dental practice has closed its website and social media
accounts since his identity was revealed after thousands of people
flooded them with angry comments.
A protest is due to be held outside the building later on Wednesday.
At the scene: Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Minneapolis
A man walks to the door of Walter Palmer's surgery and affixes a poster. It reads: "rot in hell".
A
woman remonstrates with him. "That's completely inappropriate," she
says, "he's still a human being". The man, unperturbed, refuses to take
down the notice and the argument continues.
There are about 50 people hanging around outside Mr Palmer's surgery - which is closed - today's fillings going unfilled.
One
protester brandishes a banner saying "let the hunter be the hunted" and
a woman opines that he should hang for what he's done.
The police look on, no doubt bemused at the news crews and satellite trucks that occupy this suburban street in Minneapolis.
Earlier
on Wednesday, professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst pleaded not guilty to
a charge of "failing to prevent an unlawful hunt" at a court in
Zimbabwe's capital Harare.
He was granted bail of $1,000 (£640)
and ordered to appear in court again on 5 August. His co-accused - farm
owner Honest Ndlovu - will appear at a later date.
The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe.
He
is well known in the American hunting community. In 2006, he was found
guilty of killing a black bear outside an authorised zone in the state
of Wisconsin and lying to authorities about it. He was fined $3,000
(£1,900).
Mr Palmer has visited Zimbabwe for hunting trips in the
past and one image posted online in 2010 shows him posing with a
leopard he killed.
Lions in Africa
35,000
Max estimated lion population
12,000
Max lion population in southern Africa
665 Approx number of 'trophy' lions killed for export from Africa per year
49 Lion 'trophies' exported from Zimbabwe in 2013
0.29% Contribution to GDP of Zimbabwe from trophy hunting
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.
