Several photos showing him with dead big game animals, including a leopard, rhino and elk, were posted to the website “Trophy Hunt America.”Īn album of photos on Smugmug called “Safari Connection” shows Palmer with a different dead lion in 2008. He has hunted big game all over the world, according to what his spokesperson told The Guardian and photos posted online from previous hunts. “Obviously, some things are being misreported,” he said. He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he plans to dispute some of what is being said later Tuesday. Palmer, 55, is a dentist from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with a practice in Bloomington, near Minneapolis. Walter Palmer, left, is pictured with a dead lion in 2008, that is not Cecil. In a July 1 post, prior to the lion hunt, Bushman Safaris said, “Thanks to all who like our page.Understanding how we as hunters do far more for conservation of our wildlife than anti hunters whom probably almost 100% have never even seen or been around our wildlife.Thank you and be proud to be hunters or understanding what we do.” Several people have posted angry comments to the Bushman Safaris page. We also have our own really successful hound pack with years of experience and lots of great leopard taken and being the only local houndsmen in the country.” “Today with sons Zane and Jason and wife Michele we are fully established and have concessions in the north of Zimbabwe close to Victoria Falls conducting great big game safaris such as buffalo, elephant etc. Authorities are attempting to interview him.īushman Safaris is a “family run safari outfit in Zimbabwe” that was founded in 1992 by Theo Bronkhorst, according to its Facebook page. His son, Zane Bronkhorst, is also a professional hunter and is suspected of being involved in the hunt. Theo Bronkhorst runs the hunting company with his family. Zane Bronkhorst is also a professional hunter and is being investigated by officials in Zimbabwe. Theo Bronkhorst, the founder of Bushman Safaris, was charged on Monday by police in Victoria Falls for the allegedly illegal slaying of Cecil, a 13-year-old lion who was collared and being tracked by Oxford University since 1999 and was well known in Zimbabwe. They then “tracked him down and found him 40 hours later” and shot him with a rifle, Rodrigues said. Rodrigues said Palmer first shot Cecil with a crossbow, but it did not kill him. “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.” “They went hunting at night with a spotlight and they spotted Cecil,” Johnny Rodrigues, a spokesman for the Zimbwabe Conservation Task Force, told The Guardian. (YouTube)Ĭecil the lion was killed on Antionette farm in Gwayi Conservancy in the Hwange district, the Zimbwabe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said. Cecil was found headless and skinless on the outskirts of the park. Walter Palmer is accused of killing “Cecil the lion” in Zimbabwe. Officials Say Bronkhorst Had No Permit to Justify the Killing of Cecil He is a big-game hunter he hunts the world over,” Palmer’s spokesman told The Guardian in a statement.īronkhorst appeared in court on Wednesday.ġ. “What he’ll tell you is that he had the proper legal permits and he had hired several professional guides, so he’s not denying that he may be the person who shot this lion. But a spokesperson for Palmer said the 55-year-old big game hunter did nothing illegal. Walter Palmer, is accused of paying $50,000 for the hunt, and may have killed the famed lion. The hunter, Theo Bronkhorst, of Bushman Safaris, was charged by police in Victoria Falls after officials said they determined the hunt was illegal.Ī Minnesota dentist, Dr. (Getty)Ī professional hunter is facing criminal charges in Zimbabwe in the death of a beloved lion.Ĭecil the lion was found beheaded and skinned outside the Hwange national park in early July. Professional Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst leaves the Magistrate’s Court in Hwange on July 29, 2015.
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