Cecil the Lion Killer's Vacation Home Vandalized, 'Lion Killer' Sprayed on Walter Palmer's Home
Police are searching for the person(s) responsible for vandalizing the Florida vacation home of the American dentist who killed Cecil the lion.
Minnesota dentist Dr. Walter Palmer has been at the center of a firestorm of controversy for killing the beloved lion during a trophy hunt in Africa.
Palmer reportedly paid around $50,000 to hunt the black-maned African lion with local tour guides, who used bait to lure Cecil out of the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. Once the lion was off of park grounds, Palmer shot him with an arrow. The hunters then tracked the lion for 40 hours before fatally shooting the wild cat.
Following an outpouring of global outrage over Cecil's death, Palmer released a statement saying that he had no idea that the lion was a star attraction at the Hwange National Park. Cecil was also being tracked by scientists at the University of Oxford since 2008, reports the New York Times.
The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force has said it was illegal to kill Cecil, while the government of Zimbabwe has called for the extradition of the Minnesota dentist, reports PBS News Hour.
In addition, police in southwest Florida say vandals spray painted the words "lion killer" across the garage door of Palmer's $1.1 million vacation home, reports Gossip Extra. Marco Island police Capt. David Baer says the vandals also left pigs' feet in the driveway along with a jar of lion-shaped cookies.
Some neighbors say they don't condone what Palmer did, but pointed out that two wrongs don't make a right. Other locals said they don't want to rush to judgment.
"It's pretty pathetic to rush to judgment over something you really don't have all the answers," Clayton Breitbach told NBC2 News.
"I just don't see the logic in trying to have trophies all the time. I'm a hunter myself, but I just don't get it," Houston Lasater said.
Authorities said they are investigating the vandalism and taking measure protect Palmer's property.
Meanwhile, Palmer remains in hiding in the United States. He has not been charged with a crime.
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