The environmental minister of Zimbabwe, Oppah Muchinguri, called today for the extradition of the Minnesota dentist who killed Cecil the Lion, according to an article by the New York Times.
At a news conference at Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, Muchinguri said she knows the process to extradite Walter Palmer from the U.S. is already underway, the article says.
“Unfortunately, it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher as he had already absconded to his country of origin,” a quote from The Associated Press said in the Times article. “We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he be made accountable.”
The U.S. has a treaty with Zimbabwe dictating that if someone is “charged or convicted of an offense punishable under the laws of both countries” that person can be extradited.
Since news of the killing bombarded the web and every single medium of communication, Palmer has apologized for what he did, saying he didn’t know it was Cecil the lion he had killed, and that he had relied on his two tour guides to ensure a “legal hunt.”
People flooded his dentistry with stuffed animals and signs in memory of Cecil and ripping Palmer a new one. A sign that stuck out was one that read “ROT IN HELL.” Palmer had to close his practice and went into hiding.
From the Times article:
The killing of Cecil, a tourist attraction who was also the subject of a research at the University of Oxford, has spurred global outrage on social media and beyond…
The killing has been greeted with particular anger in Zimbabwe, and Ms. Muchinguri said 5000,000 people had called for his extradition.
…
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service said on Thursday that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil.
Citing what it characterized as alarming trends in illicit hunting and poaching, the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution that supporters say would be the start of a global effort to tackle illegal poaching and trafficking of wildlife.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2015.
How stupid since Zimbabwe has no one to blame but themselves. They are the ones responsible. Allowing big game hunting they knew all to well this would happen and has happened.
Conviction by assumptions. Shame on the mob mentality.
And would you clean up your language. I won’t let me children talk like that, and I am assuming you are an adult.
Palmer is a COWARD and he deserves to die the same shameful, dishonorable death that he imposed on that majestic, intelligent,symbolic,loved,and above all INNOCENT lion.He represents the humans that have NO respect for any life besides their own.WE WANT JUSTICE FOR CECIL. SPORT HUNTING IS WRONG!DON’T ERADICATE ANOTHER SPECIES!!!
Justice FOR Cecil what was his IQ? Do you think it was innocent of murdering other animals?
You’re a vegan aren’t you? Doctors have reported in numerous studies that a lack of protein can be harmful to your brain. Get a check up from the neck up.
Sadly, If he skates he’ll be welcomed to the lucrative wingnut welfare gravy train.
If he’s guilty of poaching, I hope he is extradited. His claims of ignorance are hard to believe.
But those foaming at the mouth calling for his death, crucifixion, etc., scare me a lot more than he does.
The #1 cause of species destruction is habitat destruction for human occupation. Hunting doesn’t even register. So if you really want to save the lions, your best bet is to advocate for free birth control in Zimbabwe.
In the US that includes killing of infants. Human occupation? Sounds like self deprecating hate speech.
So where exactly are the promoters and “legal” hunters now? Why have they not been apprehended? The Dentist may have pulled the trigger but the guides got paid big bucks to provide the animal for slaughter! They are more at fault than the shooter who believed he had legally paid for this hunt.
This whole subject can really make a person sick.
Were still as primitive as we were in the beginning.