This week’s ABC 20/20 will profile the case of Dr. Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who outraged the world when he killed Cecil the lion. Last week, Inquisitr brought you the ABC 20/20 report featuring the Billy Woodward “stand your ground” beating death case. Tonight’s 20/20 will take viewers to Zimbabwe to get a closer look at the events that led to the famous lion’s death. Viewers will also get a sense of how Cecil the lion became such a main attraction, and what happened to him during the 40 hours between when he was first wounded and the time that he was actually gunned down.
The fury surrounding the case happened just after Dr. Walter Palmer made headlines when it was revealed that he was responsible for the death of Zimbabwe’s most treasured animal. Cecil the lion was a 13-year-old male West African lion who lived in the Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe, where he was a major attraction and local favorite among tourists. Not only was he loved dearly by park visitors, he was also involved in a study that was being conducted by a major university who sought to track his every move.
Zimbabwe authorities say that Cecil the lion was lured out of his safe haven and shot with a bow and arrow, before he was killed hours later with a gun. The dead carcass was found by park officials who were shocked to see that their main attraction was skinless and headless.
Cecil’s death sparked such tremendous rage that Dr. Walter Palmer ‘s face was plastered literally all over nearly every major newspaper, magazine, and social media page that exists. Even local Minnesota residents showed up to Dr. Walter Palmer’s River Bluff dental office to give him a piece of their mind. Palmer was overwhelmed by death threats and other acts of harassment by angry social media mobs who wanted the good dentist’s head on a platter.
As news outlets scurried for information on Walter Palmer’s background, it was revealed that he was quite famous in his own right as a fearless bow hunter who traveled all over the world, killing all kinds of big game, including a black bear.
Overwhelmed by the acts of hatred directed his way, Dr. Walter Palmer finally released a statement saying that he had no idea the lion he killed was tagged and part of a study. His exact statement reads this way.
“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,” Palmer said. “Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”
Palmer does have his supporters who say that he’s already acknowledged and apologized for his part in Cecil the lion’s death, and that the media should stop focusing on the case.
“Why continue to stir up this up again? My God, this man has been lynched by the media and social media. Move on already!! I gave up on 20/20 when the stories became boring!”
Chad Wagner, one of Palmer’s close friends, says that Walter is a good guy. The kind of man that “would give you the shirt off of his back.” Others say he still needs to pay for what he’s done, and that Cecil deserves justice. Here is some of the conversation that is still taking place on Facebook.
“This guy is a POS. He needs to be prosecuted and so do others who engage in this activity. We need to preserve the wildlife we have left.”
“Keep the story alive until justice is served…Walter Palmer you are a coward not a man. #cecilthelion.
Dr. Walter Palmer is still in hiding and hasn’t been seen since the story broke. To get the full details tune in to ABC 20/20 tonight at 10/9 central.
[Photo Credit: Facebook]