mighty hunter

Earlier this year, American dentist and hunting enthusiast Walter Palmer became internet public enemy #1 after he shot and killed a nationally protected lion, Cecil, while on a hunting trip in Zimbabwe.

After months of the controversy being dragged out across the news and social media, a verdict has been reached by Cecil’s home country.

Zimbabwe won’t charge American dentist Walter Palmer for the killing of Cecil the Lion- because he obtained a legal permit to do so.

Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told reporters:

“We approached the police and then the prosecutor general, and it turned out that Palmer came to Zimbabwe because all the papers were in order.”

Palmer has continually said that he was sure he’d acted legally. In September he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he was shocked to discover he had murdered one of the country’s most beloved and treasured animals:

“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. Nobody in our hunting party knew before or after the name of this lion.”

Muchinguri Kashiri said though Palmer was allowed to visit Zimbabwe as a tourist- not as a hunter- he will not be charged because, to his knowledge, he was acting legally and had collected the proper paperwork.

Two more people still face charges in the killing of Cecil, both of whom allegedly helped lay bait to lure Cecil out of his habitat in Hwange National Park.

The dentist acted lawfully...

"Looks like everybody got it wrong. The dentist acted lawfully..."

The dentist acted lawfully...

"It is an image that will haunt conservationists: one of Africa’s most majestic creatures lying dead on the ground as a white Western hunter poses proudly by its side. "..........

Trophy hunters suck.

"Well, around here we hire experts to do the job of managing wildlife. They specialize in studying the science of it. Every time non-informed voters, like ourselves, get involved and make wildlife policy via popular/uninformed/knowledgeable votes, the stupidity goes off the charts and the results go straight to hell. You want examples? "

"BUBYE VALLEY CONSERVANCY, Zimbabwe — It is the country where Cecil the lion was killed, sparking international anger against the American dentist who shot him. The outcry over Walter Palmer’s killing of Cecil drove other big-game hunters away from Zimbabwe, fearful they too would attract the ire of the public. But in what is being described as a side effect of the affair, Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife area says it now finds itself suffering from an overpopulation of lions. Bubye Valley Conservancy has more than 500 lions, the largest number in Zimbabwe’s diminishing wildlife areas. It has warned that its lion population has become unsustainable and that it may even have to cull around 200 as a result of what is being called “the Cecil effect.” Now Bubye is appealing for other institutions or wildlife sanctuaries to take some of its lions."

"Surplus lions. And they ain't worth a goddamn dime. This is the evidence that big game hunting is immoral? F*#k you. DMT"

... I wouldn’t have taken it.