http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/spea ... was-legal/As the outrage continued to howl over the hunting death of one of Africa's most iconic lions, two Zimbabwean men who allegedly received $50,000 from the American tourist who killed Cecil the lion arrived in court to face charges related to the illegal hunt, Reuters reported.
Professional hunter Theo Bronchorst and land owner Honest Trymore Bronchorst are being charged with poaching after allegedly tying a dead animal to a vehicle to lure the beloved lion outside of a national park so that American Walter James Palmer could kill him, the Associated Press reported.
The two Zimbabwean men appeared at the Hwange magistrate’s court on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Palmer, officials say, shot Cecil with a bow and arrow, but didn't kill him. After tracking the lion for about 40 hours, Palmer is alleged to have killed the 13-year-old animal with a gun. Cecil was then beheaded and skinned.
[The death of Cecil the lion and the big business of big game trophy hunting]
Zimbabwean authorities said that Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, could face charges as well; he has been accused by wildlife officials of killing Cecil without a permit, Reuters reported.
“We'll see how it plays out,” Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo told The Post on Tuesday. She added that professional hunters and land owners typically first face charges in such cases.
Palmer, who has reportedly left Zimbabwe, said Tuesday that "I deeply regret" having killed "a known, local favorite" and said he may have been misled by his hunting guides.
“I hired several professional guides, and they secured all proper permits,” read a statement from Palmer to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.”
He added: “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 deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."
Palmer said he hasn't been contacted by American or Zimbabwean officials "but will assist them in any inquires they may have."
Cecil, believed to have been killed July 1, was one of Africa's most famous lions and lived in the massive Hwange National Park.
“It is alleged that the hunter connived with the Antoinette land owner, Mr. Honest Trymore Ndlovu to kill the lion,” read a joint statement from the parks service and the Safari Operators Association. “Ongoing investigations to date suggest that the killing of the lion was illegal since the land owner was not allocated a lion on his hunting quota for 2015. Therefore, all persons implicated in this case are due to appear in court facing poaching charges.”
The 13-year-old lion’s death on private land outside of the park's boundary was condemned by the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association and set off a wave of international outrage that centered on Palmer after he was named in connection to the hunt.
Angry commenters have inundated the Yelp and Google Review pages for Palmer's dental practice, and he has been vilified across social media, as #CecilTheLion became a top worldwide trending topic on Twitter.
Don't believe anything they say.
And at the same time,
Don't believe that they say anything without a reason.
---Immanuel Kant
There's nothing so heartwarming as someone in the medical field who enjoys killing just to satisfy their ego. I hope he loses everything he has including his hunting trophy collection. It's way past time for these countries to realize their wildlife is more valuable alive. It is absolutely heartbreaking, and what can I do except sign a petition. 
