Press Association
The American dentist who killed the lion was a “foreign poacher” who paid for an illegal hunt and he should be extradited to Zimbabwe to face justice, the country’s environment minister Oppah Muchinguri has said.
In Harare’s first official comments since killing grabbed world headlines this week, Ms Muchinguri said the process to have 55- year-old Walter Palmer extradited from the US had already started.
Ms Muchinguri, a senior member of President Mugabe’s ruling ZANU- PF party, described – well-known to tourists in the Hwange National Park – as an “iconic attraction”.
She told a news conference. “We are appealing to the authorities for his extradition to Zimbabweso that he can be held accountable for his illegal actions.”
Mr Palmer has admitted killing the 13-year-old lion, who was fitted with a GPS collar as part of anOxford University study, but said in a statement he had hired professional guides and believed all necessary hunting permits were in order.
He has not been seen since his identity was revealed.
Ms Muchinguri also said Mr Palmer’s use of a bow and arrow to kill , who is said to have been lured out of the national park with bait before being shot, was in contravention of Zimbabwean hunting regulations.
Mr Palmer, a life-long big game hunter, returned to the US before authorities were aware of the controversy.
The White House said on Thursday it would review a public petition of more than 100,000 signatures to have Mr Palmer extradited.
In Zimbabwe, the illegal killing of a lion is punishable by a mandatory fine and up to 10 years in prison.
Extradite the Murderer!!
Serial killers and hunters experience the same sensation during and after their kill and they both keep a momentum of their victims. Sick.
i pray he gets full justice from both countries and looses everything and every cent he has- the sleeze also was covicted of sexual harasement of employees- he paid her off over $ 125,000 than fired her- what a piece of trash he is
This will blow over until another incident – I will be very surprised if he gets to ‘face the music’… Let’s see…
Few care many don’t, get this disgrace off the media and focus on bigger internal problems we face in the us
As an educated hunter he must be aware of the plight of these animals and the tactics used to obtain them. It is his responsibility to know the laws and the people he hires to help him. He is as guilty as they are. He choose to kill that lion. And all the other trophys he has. Most likely others were obtained in the same manner, he simply was not cought.
Wrongo, dog breath. MANY care about this atrocity and bringing the moral sinkhole responsible to justice.
C-ya! Wouldn’t want to be yaaaa
He broke the LAW !!!!!! Hand him over !!!!!!
HAND HIM OVER
Let’s find him and hand him over!! Deserves to be punished
Extradite!
Yes hand him over!
GOOD