The death of #CecilTheLion sparks an international outcry.
Cecil the Lion’s killing has outraged the people around the world and various celebrities are speaking out to show their disgust at Walter J. Palmer, the alleged killer. Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota reportedly paid $50,000 to kill the iconic lion in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
Cecil, the 13 year old lion become one of Africa’s most famous lions. He was lured out of Zimbabwe’s biggest national park then shot with a bow and arrow by a tourist, who at first was thought to be Spanish. After only wounding the aninal, the hunter who has been identified as Walter Palmer, then spent two days tracking the animal before before shooting it. Palmer then skinned the Cecil, took the head and left the body behind.
Unfortunately for them, the researches at Oxford who were tracking Cecil managed to trace the signal and find the carcass. Local authorities have found the hunters who claimed to have realised too late that they shot an animal with GPS.
Palmer, who’s been in hiding, emailed a statement to the media saying,
“In early July, I was in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip for big game. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits. To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.”
“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.”
Outraged and disgusted by the dentist’s hobby, celebrities have taken to social media to speak out against his actions. See below:
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) July 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/markhoppus/status/626152278794366976
Zimbabwe's Most Famous Lion Found Decapitated Outside National Park http://t.co/hcYhdNehWI What a loss… Why would you anyone do this?
— Ian Somerhalder (@iansomerhalder) July 28, 2015
4 out of 5 dentists agree: kill a lion.
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) July 28, 2015
This asshole. Why would anyone want to kill a lion for fun? What is wrong with people?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/Caradelevingne/status/626139497550340096
I need to not read anymore about Cecil the lion, the whole thing just makes me hate humans even more than I already do.
— Professor Green (@professorgreen) July 28, 2015
Ohh the dentist "had no idea" the lion was famous. Because had he known, he would never have murdered it without asking for a selfie first.
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 28, 2015
There are so many ways to be a fucking idiot in the modern world. https://t.co/hWrEcvjCe0
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) July 28, 2015
this man is disgusting . #WalterJamesPalmer #CecilTheLion http://t.co/zwxHslPzgg
— Shannen Doherty (@DohertyShannen) July 28, 2015
Famous or not, why would any sane and decent person opt to kill such a beautiful animal? http://t.co/uOxZfC6Qlm?
— Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) July 28, 2015
RIP #CecilTheLion
I'm struggling to imagine anything more beautiful than this pic.twitter.com/lile3Kb2dk— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015
Goodbye, #CecilTheLion. Your roar will be remembered worldwide 💔 pic.twitter.com/NnqTLffBfD
— AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) July 28, 2015
#WalterPalmer is Satan. I don't know how anyone could go to this man for dental services after this. He is a killer. Beware!
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015
I hope that #WalterPalmer loses his home, his practice & his money. He has already lost his soul…
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015
…When he dies, I hope someone mounts his ugly ass head to the wall. #WalterPalmer is a COWARD.
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015
@margaretcho I will not. I do not have sex with murderous dentists.
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) July 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/DamienFahey/status/626127419997425664
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/626131397367894016
The #CecilTheLion story has choked me up with sadness and got me mad all in one. http://t.co/fUoq9WzLTD
— Ted Stryker (@TedStryker) July 28, 2015
I’d love to go hunting for killer dentist Dr Walter Palmer, so I can stuff & mount him for MY office wall. My column:http://t.co/Xy2OWE8sU2
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 28, 2015
What an excellent example of evil cowardice as Dr Walter Palmer beheads that majestic creature.
That title "Dr" should be revoked.— Lisa Vanderpump (@LisaVanderpump) July 28, 2015
https://youtu.be/_LzXpE1mjqA
Thousands have signed a petition demanding justice for Cecil. The petition which was launched by user Ruth McD on the Petition Site on July 23rd (Thursday), targets Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and calls on the country to stop issuing hunting permits that allow tourists to kill endangered animals.
via The Guardian, Billboard and Mashable
