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Zimbabwe 'seeks lion Cecil's killer' Walter Palmer from US | Zimbabwe 'seeks lion Cecil's killer' Walter Palmer from US |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe should be extradited to face charges, Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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. | 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 | Cecil the lion |
What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabweans | What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabweans |
Licensed to kill: When hunting is not poaching | Licensed to kill: When hunting is not poaching |
Two Zimbabwean men have been implicated in the death of the lion. | 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. | 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. | "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 | 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. | 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. |
On Thursday, the White House said it would review a public petition to extradite the American dentist after more than 100,000 signed it. | 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. | 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. | 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). | He capped the offer to Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at $100,000 (£64,000). |