The hunter who killed Cecil the lion has reportedly claimed he "did nothing wrong".
The US dentist, who has been internationally criticised for his actions, told news agency AFP that he did not believe he had done anything wrong.
Walter Palmer shot and killed 13-year-old African Cecil the lion on 1 July. The death of the famed lion, who was wearing a tracking collar as part of an Oxford University research project at the time of his death, was met with international condemnation.
The dentist has been forced to go into hiding and his comments to AFP are the first said publicly in days.
READ MORE: officials accuse US hunter Walter Palmer of 'absconding'
Cecil the lion? Zimbabwean minister's confusion on death
The Zimbabwean government confirmed on Friday that they intend to seek Mr Palmer's extradition, and acussed him of attempting to damage Zimbabwe's image.
Oppah Muchinguri, the environment, water and climate minister, told a press conference that it was "too late to apprehend the foreign poacher as he had already absconded to his country of origin".
"We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he be made accountable," they added.
Their response comes as an official White House petition for his extradition to Zimbabwe reached 160,000 signatures, forcing the US government to promise a response.
On Tuesday Mr Palmer issued a statement in which he claimed he believed that the hunt was legal.
Cecil was reportedly lured off the nature reserve - where he was protected - with bait before Mr Palmer, accompanied by two local guides, shot the lion with a crossbow. Some 40 hours after the first shot the animal was shot.
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