It seems like everyone is in a tizzy over the killing of Cecil, a lion that happened to be one of the main tourist attractions of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who payed for the hunt, is in hot water for slaying the big cat. Apparently, Cecil was a protected animal and the guides who orchestrated the hunt for Palmer broke the law and were subsequently arrested for poaching. <\/p>\n
Palmer, who allegedly paid upwards of $50,000 for the hunt, claims he was ignorant to the status of Cecil.<\/p>\n
“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,” Palmer said in a statement issued Tuesday. “I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.”<\/p>\n
“I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,” Palmer said.<\/p>\n
Palmer hunted the lion with his compound bow. However, his first shot wasn\u2019t lethal and the two Zimbabwean guides had to track the animal for 40 hours before killing it with a gun, according to reports. The lion was then beheaded and skinned. <\/p>\n
The death of Cecil went viral and put Palmer in the eye of the storm. Soon, celebrities began weighing in on social media:<\/p>\n
\nIt's not for food. It's not the shooting, or tin cans would do. It must just be the thrill of killing. Mental. https:\/\/t.co\/0fjtXoC1ML<\/a><\/p>\n— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n…When he dies, I hope someone mounts his ugly ass head to the wall. #WalterPalmer<\/a> is a COWARD.<\/p>\n— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nGood RT @Vagabionda1<\/a>: Backlash Forces Killer Of Famous #CecilTheLion<\/a> To Close His Dental … https:\/\/t.co\/KmUAePQNYf<\/a><\/p>\n— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) July 28, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nUsed to hate my dentist for yelling at me about my night guard but at least she didn't kill #CecilTheLion<\/a><\/p>\n— Jerry O'Connell (@MrJerryOC) July 28, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nSHAME ON HIM! I want them to take his citizenship away. I'm ashamed and horrified by what he did. #CecilTheLion<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/SGRwiOi0UK<\/a><\/p>\n