The American dentist who killed Cecil the lion a month ago in Zimbabwe paid for an illegal hunt and should be extradited to the southern African nation to face justice, Zimbabwe's environment minister said on Friday.
In a news conference, Oppah Muchinguri referred to 55-year-old Walter Palmer as a "foreign poacher," and said she understood that Zimbabwe's prosecutor general had started the process to have him extradited from the United States.
"We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he can be held accountable for his illegal action," she said.
Muchinguri also said Palmer's use of a bow and arrow to kill the lion, who is said to have been lured out of Hwange National Park with bait before being shot, was in contravention of Zimbabwean hunting regulations.
Palmer has admitted killing the 13-year-old predator, a favourite with foreign tourists and the subject of an Oxford University study, but said he had hired professional guides and believed all the necessary hunting permits were in order.
The Minnesota dentist and trophy hunter has not been seen since his identity was revealed this week by Zimbabwean conservationists, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday afternoon it was contacted by a representative of Palmer.
The agency is investigating the killing to see if it was part of a conspiracy to violate U.S. laws against illegal wildlife trading.
In Washington, a Zimbabwean diplomat said the embassy was not aware that extradition proceedings had been initiated by his government.
Richard Chibuwe, deputy chief of the mission, said Zimbabwe takes the case very seriously and noted that two Zimbabwean men face court proceedings for helping Palmer.
On Wednesday, a Zimbabwean court charged local professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst with failing to prevent Palmer from unlawfully killing Cecil.
"People really feel strongly that he must also face trial," Chibuwe said of Palmer.
The U.S. Justice Department said it does not comment on extradition requests. Palmer must be charged in Zimbabwe before he can be extradited.
I have seen such kind of news. In my view, I hate people who kill animals for fun. In our daily life, we contact with all kinds of meat such as beef and pork. Thought we eat meat, we esteem their life. We cannot accept someone treat animals like that.
回覆刪除We shouldn't kill animals at will. Animals are also lives, we should respect them,too. Their death must also be meaningful. Not just be killed in one's mind.
回覆刪除We shouldn't kill animals at will. Animals are also lives, we should respect them,too. Their death must also be meaningful. Not just be killed in one's mind.
回覆刪除