The Minnesota dentist who authorities said hunted and killed Africa’s beloved lion earlier this month has angered America’s beloved animal-lover Betty White.
On Thursday, the 93-year-old actress became the latest celebrity to call out Walter Palmer, 55, who authorities said was involved in hunting, killing, skinning and beheading 13-year-old Cecil, a protected lion well known throughout Zimbabwe. The incident ignited international outcry from animal rights groups and even some hunters who say they want justice for the lion.
White, a longtime animal activist, called Cecil’s death “a heartbreaker.”
“You don’t want to hear some of the things I want to do to that man,” she told the Associated Press. “You can’t even talk about it, and to see this king of the jungle and personifying it in every way, this gorgeous creature. How can somebody do that?”
Palmer set out for a big game hunting trip in early July in Zimbabwe. He said he hired professional guides who took him to Hwange National Park, where he and his team spotted the lion. Authorities with the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said the men lured the lion outside the park where he had been protected and then Palmer wounded him with a bow and arrow. For 40 hours, they hunted him, authorities said, and then Palmer shot him with a rifle.
Palmer paid about $50,000 for the kill, according to authorities.
Since the news about the incident broke earlier this week, Palmer has been the target of international scorn. He released a letter to his patients, explaining his side.
“To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted,” he wrote. “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. I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have.”
Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it has tried numerous times to contact Palmer but it has been unsuccessful. It seems Palmer has gone underground.
“Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,” he wrote. “That was never my intention.”
Palmer’s actions have also invoked the wrath of Bob Barker. The former face of “The Price Is Right,” known for his work with animal rights groups, told “Entertainment Tonight” that he wanted to see Palmer put in prison.
“I understand that his patients are lining up to cancel their appointments and [that’s] well deserved,” he said. “If he was my dentist, I would never set eyes on him again.”
Even Jimmy Kimmel jumped on the bandwagon this week, questioning on his show not only Palmer’s actions but also the entire practice of big game hunting.
“The big question is: Why are you shooting a lion in the first place?” he said. “I’m honestly curious to know why a human being would feel compelled to do that. How is that fun? Is it that difficult for you to get an erection that you need to kill things that are stronger than you? If that’s the case, they have a pill for that.”
But, he added: “I’m not against hunting if you’re hunting to eat or trying to keep the animal population healthy or if it’s part of your culture or something.”
Kimmel said he also doesn’t think it’s right to feed the witch hunt for Palmer. Justice, he said, should be handled according to laws in Africa and the U.S.
Zimbabwean authorities have charged professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst in Cecil’s death, according to the Associated Press. Landowner Honest Trymore Ndlovu has also been named by the country’s parks service for his role in Cecil’s death, but his lawyer said he has not been charged.