Guides who helped dentist kill Africa's most famous lion face poaching charges: Hunter and farmer appear in court in Zimbabwe amid growing international fury over death of beloved 'Cecil'
- Dr Walter J Palmer, a dentist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, killed the famed lion on July 1 in Zimbabwe
- His guides, professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu appeared in Harare court
- Both were charged with poaching Cecil and court documents accuse Bronkhorst of failing to prevent an 'unlawful hunt'
- Both were released on bail of $1,000 and no mention was made in court of Dr. Pamer being a suspect
- Cecil the lion, 12, was lured out of the Hwange national park and wounded by an arrow before he was tracked, shot dead with a gun, skinned and beheaded as a hunting trophy
- Dr Palmer admits he was responsible but said he was unaware it was protected and said he 'regrets' the killing
Two Zimbabweans accused of helping an American dentist hunt Cecil the lion have appeared in court amid growing anger over the protected animal's slaughter.
Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu allegedly assisted Dr. Walter Palmer, who has since received death threats, catch and kill the lion.
Dr Palmer claims he had trusted his local guides to meet legal guidelines on his trip to Africa, during which he shot Cecil with a crossbow on July 1 before skinning and beheading him.
The two Zimbabwean men appeared at Hwange magistrates' court charged with poaching, about 435 miles west of the capital Harare and were both released on bail of $1,000.
The Zimbabwean prosecutors' documents accuse Bronkhorst of failing to 'prevent an unlawful hunt' and documents say Bronkhorst was supervising while his client, Palmer, shot the animal.
The court documents made no mention of Palmer as a suspect.
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Accused: Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst (right) and local landowner Honest Ndlovu (left) allegedly assisted Walter Palme kill the lion
Appearance: Theo Bronkhorst with his co accused Honest Trymore Ndlovu as they arrive at the Hwange Magistrates courts to face charges for allegedly killing one of the oldest lions popularly known as Cecil at Hwange National Park on July 1
Honest Ndlovu (L) talks with his lawyer outside the Magistrate's Court in Hwange while Theo Bronkhorst leaves on Wednesday afternoon
Dr Palmer (left), an avid big game hunter who has killed dozens of animals, has admitted to being the one who shot and killed Cecil the Lion (not pictured) in Zimbabwe
This is the last known photograph of Cecil the lion (bottom) taken by Brent Stapelkamp in May before he was killed by the American dentist. Cecil is pictured with Jericho, a male lion who it is feared could kill the cubs of the pride fathered by Cecil
Walter Palmer (pictured left with a bear and right with a leopard) is a specialist bow and arrow hunter and has 43 registered kills on the Safari Club International website
Meanwhile as the controversy raged and Dr. Palmer still remained out of public sight, he issued a letter of apology to his patients for any inconvenience.
Explaining that he was a 'life long hunter' who refrained from talking about his passion because he is aware of the deep passions it stirs, Dr. Palmer said that he was sorry his dental practice had closed.
He expressed regret that he specifically killed Cecil because he was unaware of the lions protected status.
Dr Walter Palmer's office and practice website have become a target for animal rights activists
He thanked his patients for support and hoped that the disruption would end sooner rather than later.
The social media opprobrium continued on Wednesday, when Mia Farrow posted an ill-advised message to Twitter containing Dr. Palmer's business address in Minneapolis.
The controversial 70-year-old screen legend took such umbrage with Dr. Palmer's decision to shoot and kill Cecil on a $50,000 hunt that she took the dangerous decision to advertize where he and his staff worked.
'CecilTheLion -Gentle protector of 6 cubs. Loved by many. Killed by Dentist Walter Palmer,' Farrow tweeted Wednesday, followed by Palmer's address.
Farrow quickly had second thoughts and deleted the address and amended the tweet to show a Twitter picture of his dental practice in Bloomington, Minneapolis.
Tributes to the butchered lion have poured in thousands of miles away at Dr Walter Palmer's office in Bloomington, Minnesota, where protesters dressed as 'dentist hunters' also threw stuffed lions at his house.
The hunter's office and practice website have become a target for animal rights activists disgusted by the dentist's actions, which have resulted in Zimbabwe authorities demanding to speak with him.
One of the strongest denunciations came from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which said on its Twitter account that Dr Palmer should hang for killing Cecil.
'If, as reported, this dentist & guides lured #CeciltheLion out of the park with food so as to shoot him on private property because shooting #CeciltheLion in the park would have been illegal, he needs to be extradited, charged, &, preferably, hanged.'
PETA continued: 'Hunting is a coward's pastime. To get a thrill at the cost of life this man gunned down loved 'w/ a high-powered weapon'.
'All wild animals are beloved by their own, but to hunters like this overblown, over-privileged little man, they're merely targets.
'The photograph of this dentist, smiling over the corpse of another animal, will disgust every caring soul in the world'.
The hunter allegedly paid $55,000 (£35,000) for a big game permit on the trip, and said that he did not know that the 13-year-old lion was protected.
However, since his role in Cecil's death has been uncovered, animal lovers have laid siege to Dr Palmer's website, posting incredibly negative and abusive reviews.
Outrage at Dr Palmer's actions seethed through the internet, and British supermodel Cara Delevinge tweeted: 'This #WalterPalmer is a poor excuse of a human being!'
Outpouring of grief: A memorial to the famous lion at a Zimbabwe national park who was shot by American dentist Walter Palmer has been set up outside his office in Bloomington, Minnesota, along with a sign calling the hunter a killer
Artful protest: Painter Mark Balma paints a portrait of Cecil the lion to donate to anti-poaching efforts in the parking lot of Dr. Walter Palmer's dental clinic
Stuffed lions were placed at Dr Palmer's house and protesters dressed as 'dentist hunters' while armed with squirt guns outside his office
Explain it to a child: Hayley Hoppe, (right), sits with her daughters Piper, 10, (left), and Paisley outside River Bluff Dental, Walter Palmer's dental practice, in Bloomington
Spelling it out: Kaitlin Fuller and daughter Autumn, 10, hold their placards while another protester tells Dr. Palmer exactly what he thinks of his hunting prowess
Stop: Kaitlin Fuller (center) and daughter Autumn, 10, join others gathered at River Bluff Dental clinic in protest against the killing of Cecil
Abandoned: Since the social media firestorm over Dr. Palmer broke on Tuesday morning, the Minnesota dentist has temporarily closed his Bloomington practice (left) and has left his home (right)
Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel wrote on Instagram: 'How dare you #walterpalmer !!!! As a South African and as a human being I can't express how deeply saddened I am by this, what pleasure do you get out of doing such a thing!
'Seeing these animals alive in their natural habitat is such a blessing, you have to be so sick to want to kill such a majestic creature of God.
'You come to Africa with your dollars and euros thinking you can buy power by taking advantage of Africa's poverty and paying people to help you kill an innocent creature.
'Disgusting! I hope you get what you deserve #walterpalmer.'
Ricky Gervais also tweeted: 'RIP #CecilTheLion. I'm struggling to imagine anything more beautiful than this.'
'ONE OF MY PASSIONS OUTSIDE DENTISTRY IS HUNTING': DR.PALMER'S LETTER OF APOLOGY TO HIS PATIENTS
'To my valued patients: As you may have already heard, I have been in the news over the last few days for reasons that have nothing to do with my profession or the care I provide for you.
'I want you to know of this situation and my involvement In addition to spending time with my family, one of my passions outside dentistry is hunting. I've been a life-long hunter since I was a child growing up in North Dakota. I don't often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic.
Passion: Dr. Walter Palmer with one of his African trophies
'I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.
'In early July, I was in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip for big game. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits. To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.
'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.
'I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but 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. That was never my intention.
'The media interest in this matter – along with a substantial number of comments and calls from people who are angered by this situation and by the practice of hunting in general – has disrupted our business and our ability to see our patients.
'For that disruption, I apologize profoundly for this inconvenience and promise you that we will do our best to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
'We are working to have patients with immediate needs referred to other dentists and will keep you informed of any additional developments. On behalf of all of us at River Bluff Dental, thank you for your support.'
Sincerely, Walter J. Palmer, DDS River Bluff Dental'
In an emotional appeal, American television host Jimmy Kimmel asked viewers to donate to the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit - those responsible for collaring and tracking Cecil.
At court today, defence lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi said proceedings were delayed by several hours because prosecutors are 'making their assessments'. If convicted, the two Zimbabwean men face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe.
Mr Bronkhorst, who allegedly acted as Dr Palmer's guide, has been stripped of his licence while he faces criminal charges, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said in a joint statement.
Mr Ndlovu is also facing criminal charges over claims he did not have a hunting permit, the joint statement added.
A family friend said Mr Bronkhorst believed he had acted legally during the hunt and was shocked to find that the lion was wearing a collar.
Strong feelings: Sharon Osbourne left her Twitter followers in no doubt as to her feelings about what she would do to Dr. Palmer and actor Dylan McDermott offered a plaintive prayer
'He is a very professional, very honest conservationist, Ian Ferguson said.
'This has just about destroyed the family, his wife has virtually had a nervous breakdown.
'The whole thing was perfectly legal. When they found the lion had a collar... he went and reported to the national parks immediately.
'This was just a terrible, very unfortunate act.'
Ire against Dr Palmer first erupted when he was identified as the shooter by The Telegraph on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Fundira, the president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday that Dr Palmer is wanted for the death of Cecil.
Police spokesman Charity Charamba said 'we are looking for Palmer' who allegedly paid $55,000 (£35,000) for a big game permit and traveled from Minneapolis to Africa to kill a lion.
'We arrested two people and now we are looking for Palmer in connection with the same case,' said Ms Charamba.
The dentist is said to be somewhere in the Twin Cities, though calls to numbers listed for his home and office went unanswered Tuesday.
His dental practice was closed when reporters went to knock on the door and a note on the father-of-two's home address referred all callers to a public relations firm in Minneapolis.
The much loved big cat whose death sent Dr Palmer into hiding was wounded by an arrow after he was allegedly lured out of the national park by the hunter's bait.
After tracking the injured beast, Cecil was eventually found and shot dead. His corpse was then skinned and the head hacked off as a trophy.
However, speaking to the Star Tribune on Tuesday morning, Dr Palmer said he was unaware of Cecil's fame and expressed regret but denied any illegality and laid any blame firmly at the door of his guides.
'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.
'Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.'
Dr Palmer is a member of the Safari Club International (SCI), which has approximately 55,000 members across the world.
The dentist is a specialist bow and arrow hunter and has 43 registered kills on the SCI website.
Dr Palmer, a client of Bronkhorst, is thought to have hunted game in Zimbabwe before and once told the New York Times he is 'capable of skewering a playing card from 100 yards with his compound bow.'
Stunning: Cecil the lion was popular with visitors to Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe who were fascinated by his unusual black mane
Cecil and his pride pictured eating an elephant in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. There are fears the cubs in the pride could be killed
Consequences: There are fears for the cubs in Cecil pride, who may be killed by another male lion following his death earlier this month
According to local legend, Cecil (pictured) was kicked out of his pride and wandered alone until he met another lone lion called Jericho
Walter Palmer (pictured in red shorts) has previously been fined for lying to authorities about where he shot dead a bear in Wisconsin
His passion for hunting has also landed him in trouble before with the law.
Dr Palmer pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the precise location of where he killed a black bear in Wisconsin in 2008.
Dr Palmer was placed on a one year probation and fined $2,939 after it was found that he was not licensed to kill the bear in that particular area.
The passionate hunter describes himself on his dentist website as having 'a unique talent for creating dazzling smiles that complement each individual's tooth structure, skin tone, and facial attributes'.
The married father-of-two also states that outside of work he enjoys anything which allows him 'to stay active and observe and photograph wildlife'.
His passion for hunting has led him to use his archery skills to kill all but one of the animals listed on respected bowhunting organisation Pope and Young's records. The hunting group's list includes tough targets like polar bears, leopards, rhinos and lions.
Johnny Rodrigues, of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), said: 'They went hunting at night with a spotlight and they spotted Cecil.
'They tied a dead animal to their vehicle to lure Cecil out of the park and they scented an area about half a kilometre from the park.'
Mr Rodrigues revealed that Dr Palmer shot his bow and arrow at Cecil, but failed to kill him and that they stalked the wounded and stricken lion before finally shooting him dead with a gun and beheading him.
According to The Independent, he added: 'The head – his trophy – has been impounded and confiscated as evidence for the court in Victoria Falls.'
And to add to the outrage surrounding the death of Cecil, the future of the cubs of his pride are now thought to be at risk. The cubs could be killed if the pride is taken over by another male lion.
Cecil (right) pictured fighting with Jericho, who is now the highest ranking lion in their pride, in May 2014. According to local legend, Cecil was kicked out of his pride and wandered alone until he met Jericho
It is believed Cecil (right) and Jericho (left) both had a pride, comprised of six lionesses and several young cubs, situated in the park before they joined forces. They are pictured here in May 2014
Much-loved: Cecil the lion was shot with a crossbow before being skinned and beheaded by Dr Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe on July 1
After tracking the injured beast, Cecil was eventually found and shot dead. His corpse was then skinned and his head hacked off
Cecil the Lion (pictured in 2012) was thought to have been lured outside the park and was initially wounded by an arrow before being stalked, shot and beheaded
Dr Palmer owns the River Bluff Dental practice in Bloomington, Minnesota. Social media accounts belonging to the dental practice and its Yelp page were inundated with furious comments about Cecil
'The saddest part of all is that now that Cecil is dead, the next lion in the hierarchy, Jericho, will most likely kill all Cecil's cubs,' Mr Rodrigues said.
A spokesman for Dr Palmer told the Guardian that he was 'obviously quite upset over everything'.
The day after the hunt, it is believed Mr Bronkhorst went to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and reported the hunt.
Park authorities confirmed that a valid license was held but that it did not specify where the hunting of the lion could take place.
Using a bow and arrow to hunt animals is allowed in Zimbabwe as long an hunting permit is held.
The permit specifies that the hunting of animals inside a national park or government-run safari area is illegal.
An early statement issued by the Zimbabwean Parks Authority said: 'Theo Bronkhorst, a professional hunter with Bushman Safaris, is facing criminal charges for allegedly killing a collared lion on Antoinette farm in Gwayi Conservancy, Hwange district on 1 July 2015.
'Both the professional hunter and land owner had no permit or quota to justify the offtake of the lion and therefore are liable for the illegal hunt.'
The statement said that Mr Bronkhorst's son Zane was also wanted for questioning, and that the lion trophy had been confiscated.
Bronkhorst's business, Bushman Safaris Zimbabwe, said on its Facebook page that the fees hunters pay to shoot wildlife helps preserve the animal's habitats.
Above, Dr Palmer with another one of his kills. The dentist is an expert shot with a bow and arrow and poses proudly with his hunted rhino
Dr Palmer was identified on Tuesday by both the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force and the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe as the American hunter who killed Cecil the lion, which police then confirmed
Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, had earlier said the death of Cecil the lion is 'a real loss to our tourism industry and it has caused a lot of anxiety'.
'Cecil was collared, indicating that he was selected for research purposes.
'He was popular with visitors to Hwange National Park who were fascinated by his black mane and always wanted to know his whereabouts.'
The death of Cecil has left conservationists deeply worried for the safety of several lion cubs, who are now living unprotected in the park.
Researchers had fitted Cecil with a tracking collar but it appears the hunter removed it and attempted to destroy any evidence.
Cecil was one of the park's oldest lions and was well known for his striking looks and friendly nature.
According to local legend, Cecil was kicked out of his pride and wandered alone until he met another lone lion called Jericho.
Cecil and Jericho both had a pride, comprised of six lionesses and several young cubs, situated in the park.
Beks Ndlovo, chief executive of the African Bush Camps, a private safari company in Zimbabwe, called for the hunting of lions to be stopped.
He said: 'In my personal capacity... I strongly object and vehemently disagree with the legalising and practice of hunting lions in any given area.
'I will personally be encouraging Zimbabwe National Parks and engaging with government officials to stop the killing of lions and with immediate effect.'
In May, a US hunter shot an elderly black rhinoceros in Namibia after buying a government-issued licence for $350,000.
'I HOPE YOUR PRACTICE GOES UP IN FLAMES': ONLINE FURY AT DENTIST WHO KILLED CECIL THE LION FOR SPORT
Prize: Walter Palmer poses with a Nevada California Bighorn during one of his successful hunting trips
Almost immediately after Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer was named as the killer of Cecil the lion, outraged members of the public decided to flood the Yelp review page of his practice with angry messages.
Some members of the public simply scolded the big game hunter, while others outright threatened Dr Palmer, so sickened were they by his hunting trip to Zimbabwe where he paid $55,000 for a permit to shoot dead a lion.
Liesi. C. from Chicago, Illinois called for his dentistry practice to go up in flames in addition to wishing for him to lose all his patients.
'There is absolutely nothing I can say that will fully encapture the utter hatred I feel for Dr Palmer,' wrote Liesi C.
'Dr. Palmer, you're pathetic. You're not even a man. A man wouldn't do what you've done. You're a little boy and I hope you are charged to the full extent of any and all law.'
Others claimed that Dr. Palmer had no regard for life and called him a 'repulsive human being who deserves to be charged with poaching and extradited to Zimbabwe'.
Some reviewers labeled Dr Palmer a monster for 'illegally torturing and murdering Cecil the lion'.
Jen O., also from Chicago, was distressed by the fact that experts now believe that Cecil's six cubs will now die when a new male takes over his pride.
Some people like Alex O. tried to bring the message back to Dr Palmer's status as a erstwhile respected member of the community.
'Do you trust a man like that with your teeth,' wrote Alex O. 'Would you be happy to know that the money you're paying him funds that kind of sick, cowardly and cruel lifestyle?'
Karly O. from Portland, Oregon was concerned about the state of Dr Palmer's ethics.
'If he lies about luring a lion out of a park so he can critically wound it and kill it hours later, how can you trust him to tell you the truth about your teeth?'
One individual appeared to pour scorn on the hunting methods employed by Dr Palmer.
'Walter Palmer baited a lion out of a preserve, set up an ambush, wounded it, then found it the next morning to finish him off,' wrote It's M.
'This is not hunting. There is no skill worthy of a trophy here. Especially when you fail to immediately kill the animal, causing it to suffer.'
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