The news of Cecil the Lion’s killing earlier this month at the hand of US dentist Walter Palmer sparked worldwide outrage, and even made Jimmy Kimmel cry, so then why has Zimbabwe lifted the hunting ban that was imposed after just 10 days?
Zimbabwe announced an indefinite ban on August 1st, following the news that Cecile, a prized lion and subject of a lengthy Oxford University study, had been illegally killed. As NBC News reports, this ban has now been lifted.
The ban on big game hunting remains in place on the farmland where Cecil died, as well as several other areas where animals where allegedly killed illegally, says Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo.
Cecil. Image Credit: Daughter#3 (Flickr)
She says anyone convicted of illegal hunting will be permanently banned from receiving hunting permits “as they tarnish the image of the hunting industry, the authority and the country at large.”
Criminal lawyers in Thailand Chaninat and Leeds have decades of experience in successfully handling criminal cases on behalf of their clients.
What will happen to those involved?
Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota who is now in hiding, paid guide Theo Bronkhurst $50,000 for his hunting holiday in the East African country. Bronkhurst helped lure Cecil with bait before Palmer killed him with a bow and arrow.
It seems that Bronkhurst may get away with a fine as small as $391 USD.
Palmer may not be so lucky. Now, many in Zimbabwe are calling for him to be extradited from the US back to Zimbabwe to be brought to justice. The United States has a treaty with Zimbabwe, however this has not been used since it took effect in 2000.
Since Palmer is accused of illegal activity, having been hunting without the necessary permits, he seems to qualify for extradition.
In Zimbabwe, the illegal killing of a lion is punishable by with a fine of $20,000 and up to 10 years in jail.
Palmer says he was not aware that what he was doing was illegal. He claims to have been relying on the local guides “to ensure a legal hunt . . . 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.”
President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, speaking of Cecil, has told the people of Zimbabwe “All the natural resources are yours. Even Cecil the lion is yours. He is dead but yours to protect, and you failed to protect him.”
You can view the video of Mugabe’s speech below.
For the full story, go here.
Here you can read about the Extradition Act in Thailand.
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