Zimbabwean pair due in court over Cecil the lion killing
Correspondent | Wednesday July 29, 2015 13:05
Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and farm owner Honest Ndlovu, are charged with poaching offences for not having the required hunting permit.
US dentist Walter Palmer shot the animal with a crossbow and rifle outside Hwange National Park.
Police say Mr Palmer, who claims he was unaware of the lion's identity, could also face poaching charges.
The two Zimbabwean men, who accompanied him on the hunt, will appear in court in Victoria Falls, and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Mr Palmer says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and believed he was on a legal hunt, saying he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits.
Separately, court records have shown that the dentist has a felony record in the US after killing a black bear in the state of Wisconsin in 2006.
He was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000 (£1,900), having shot the animal outside an authorised zone and then trying to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere.
Records from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry also show that Mr Palmer was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint which was settled in 2006.
A receptionist alleged that he had made indecent comments to her. Mr Palmer admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to pay out more than $127,000 (£81,000).
The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe.
Cecil the lion was skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity.
More than 265,000 people have signed an online 'Justice for Cecil' petition, calling on Zimbabwe's government to stop issuing hunting permits for endangered animals.
As news of the killing and details about the perpetrator have spread online, there has been a slew of comments on social media condemning Walter Palmer, with some people calling for him to face justice.
Mr Palmer insists that he believed 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 would 'assist them in any inquiries they may have'.
The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown.
'Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,' he said.
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.
The practice's Facebook page was removed from the site after being besieged by angry comments and the company website was also taken down.
BBC