River Bluff Dental In Minnesota Shut Down By Protest Over Dentist’s Killing Of Cecil, Zimbabwe’s Famous Lion

River Bluff Dental remained closed on Wednesday as it was besieged by protestors voicing outrage over the killing of Cecil, a beloved celebrity lion residing in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. On a bow-hunting trip to Zimbabwe, Minnesota Dentist Walter Palmer shot and decapitated the lion on July 1 after it was lured out of its protected area by local guides.

In response to the international furor over the killing, Palmer who operates River Bluff Dental, issued the following public statement last Tuesday.

“I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt. 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 deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”

Referring to Palmer’s guides, hunter Theo Bronkorst and landowner Honest Ndlovu, the Zimbabwe Parks Authority declared Tuesday that both men had no permit to take the lion, making it an illegal hunt. Both men were scheduled to appear in a Victoria Falls court Wednesday.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force named Walter James Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, as having paid his hired men at least $50,000 to track and kill the animal.

According to The Guardian, the same task force reported that Palmer and Bronkhurst went out in the dark of night with a spotlight while a dead animal was tied to their vehicle to lure Cecil into the open range.

Zimbabwean authorities confirmed that Palmer killed Cecil, a protected lion and one of the most famous animals at the Hwange National Park. Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said that Cecil was fitted with a GPS collar and tracked by the Oxford University research program.

The Guardian indicated that the Animal Rights Coalition, a U.S.-based animal rights group, conducted the protest outside Palmer’s River Duff dental clinic in Bloomington, Minneapolis, Wednesday afternoon. Its front festooned with placards, wreaths, and toy animals from the protest, the clinic was forced to remain shut.

USA Today reported that Palmer has a past record of illegal hunting. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to lying to a federal agent about where he shot a black bear in Wisconsin. For the offense, he received a $3,000 fine with probation.

Among the notable tweets on the subject, one was from former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gringrich, saying: “The entire team that killed the lion cecil should go to jail including the Minneapolis dentist. Sharon Osbourne tweeted: “When he dies, I hope someone mounts his ugly ass head to the wall.” Shannen Doherty tweeted: “this man is disgusting.” Ricky Martin tweeted: “#JusticeForCecilTheLion NOW.” Ian Somerhalder tweeted: “Zimbabwe’s Most Famous Lion Found Decapitated Outside National Park …What a loss… Why would you anyone do this?”

As Zimbabwean authorities and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decide what to do with Walter Palmer regarding Cecil’s death, the operator of River Bluff Dental stays out of sight.

[Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images]