Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Entertainment
Heather Saul

Cecil the lion: Ricky Gervais and Cara Delevingne lead outpouring of anger after trophy hunter is identified as Walter Palmer

Cecil was probably Zimbabwe's most famous lion and the star attraction of Hwange national park (Byran Orford/Youtube)

Cara Delevingne, Ricky Gervais and Juliette Lewis have joined  a number of famous figures reacting with outrage after the trophy hunter who killed Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe was identified as Walter Palmer, an American dentist who reportedly paid £35,000 to hunt and kill the beloved animal.

Palmer was identified by the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe and police as the man who killed Cecil with a crossbow and could face poaching charges, according to Zimbabwe police. He has defended his actions, claiming he was not informed by his guides that the lion he killed was a protected, collared animal who had been the subject of a decades-long study by the Wildlife Unit of Oxford University.

“I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favourite, 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," he said in a statement on Tuesday. The most controversial animal kills

"I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the US about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have. Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."

The 13-year-old animal was found beheaded and skinned near the Hwange National Park.

A number of notable figures expressed their fury on Twitter, with Sharon Osbourne saying she hoped Palmer lost his home and his practice, while Professor Green said he couldn’t read anymore about Cecil’s death because it was making him “hate humans even more that I already do”.

 

Palmer’s whereabouts are currently unknown. A woman at his practice in Minnesota told the Associated Press he was not taking patients on Tuesday. A number of stuffed animal toys were left outside of the door, while the Facebook page for his practice was also taken down after it was flooded with furious comments blasting him for shooting the animal.

Read more: Dentist who killed Cecil the lion blames local guides
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fact check: Are FaZe Banks and Kendall Jenner dating? viral photo sparks buzz after alleged sighting
A viral claim about FaZe Banks and Kendall Jenner dating is false. The image that started the rumor was edited using AI, as confirmed by the original X post. There is no real proof linking them. Both have separate dating histories, but currently, no verified information suggests any relationship between…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Hey, Netflix, Stop Suggesting Movies To Me I Can't Watch With My Plan (You're Not Amazon!)
Hoo boy, this set me off.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
I’m Getting Stressed Out Just Hearing Jack Black’s Take On What It’s Like Hosting SNL
Feels like the only show that could rattle Jack Black!
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Disclosure day: If ET made contact, how would we handle the news?
How would people react if an alien civilization actually made contact with us? Space.com talked to experts, who shared a variety of opinions about a possible real-life "disclosure day."
Space
Space
No one at Waffle House remembers Trump’s FEMA official who claims he was teleported there
None of the two dozen workers and regulars interviewed by The New York Times noticed any metaphysical activity
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Three-week-old mountain lion cub rescued by California biologists
Crimson, seen alone in Santa Monica mountains for days, gets care in Oakland zoo after mother nowhere to be found
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play