via Cecil hunters in court tomorrow – The Zimbabwean 28 July 2015
The killing of world famous Zimbabwean lion, Cecil, may represent just the tip of the iceberg, the president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, Emmanuel Fundira has said.
Fundira told The Zimbabwean shortly after a press conference in Harare today that the killing of Cecil was a sophisticated operation conducted by a highly organised syndicate which may involve more people than those identified.
“It’s possible that some of the cases may go unnoticed and there could be collusion involving a number of individuals. The $55,000 could have found its way around a number of people,” Fundira said.
During the press conference Fundira revealed that the lion was shot at 10 pm at the beginning of this month by American Walter James Palmer from Minnesota.
“Cecil was killed using a bow hunt, a silent weapon revealing the intent to conceal what happened,” he said.
A joint press statement by SOAZ and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority issued earlier said that the professional hunter involved, Theo Bronkhurst and the owner of Antoinette Farm, Honest Trymore Ndlovu are being charged for illegally hunting the lion.
Fundira said the killing of Cecil represented a loss for the country both in heritage and financial terms.
“The proper market value for a lion like Cecil would be around $100,000”.
“Since this was not a legal hunt it means this money is not directly accruing to the people and government of Zimbabwe. The area where the lion was killed did not have a hunting quota for lions for 2015”.
The SOAZ president refuted what he called allegations in the international media that Cecil’s death illustrated poor wildlife conservation.
“We are very conscious of conservation and we use hunting as a conservation tool and we use quotas. The hunting methods we use involves the use of a fair chase which still provides the required experience for the tourist even when the animal might not get killed,” he said.
Cecil was part of an Oxford University research project and wore a GPS collar.
“We lost an icon. Cecil was very well known in the international community. The absence of Cecil is a disaster in terms of the disappointment it has caused,” Fundira said.
Ndlovu and Bronkhurst will appear in court tomorrow, Wednesday July 29. Bronkhorst’s licence has also been suspended with immediate effect. The lion trophy has been confiscated and will be used as an exhibit in court.
Bonkhorst has also been suspended from The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association.
Accrding to Fundira Bronkhorst’s son, Zane who was being sought by the police has been caught.
COMMENTS
Please, if there is a god, or any justice in Zimbabwe, let all of the disgusting people involved in this heinous act SUFFER the appropriate punishment! At the very least, several years in Chikurubi. Thereafter, let loose without food or protection in a lion-infested area. Of course the American hunter will now be back safely in his perverted country, planning his next ”triumph”, and I can only wish bad things for him and his family. I usually try not to express such extreme views but in this case I am outraged and would happily send an arrow in his direction so that he could suffer in pain for 2 days before being chewed by a lion or stomped on by an elephant!
Hear, hear!
US has started petition to have Walter J. Palmer DDS extradited to Zimbabwe to face charges.
Here is the petition.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/extradite-minnesotan-walter-james-palmer-face-justice-zimbabwe
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/extradite-minnesotan-walter-james-palmer-face-justice-zimbabwe
A sickening and sad affair. Hope all involved are punished to the full extent of the law.
I agree with everything Angela said.
I demand justice for Ceceil. Zim’s government needs to demand that the US finds Palmer and faces trial!
The world is watching…now we want to see justice!
I live in America, was born in Zimbabwe and wish all these rich American hunters a life of hell.
Sustainable consumptive use of wildlife resources ie hunting is most certainly one of the most productive and effective methods of conservation. PROVIDED all involved from the authorities to the hunters themselves conduct it in an ethical and moral manner.
“Sportsmen” hunting are one thing , immoral money grabbing murderers are another, genuine hunting associations need to be given more power to police the rogue elements within their own midst or at least do what they can to expose these people or the industry will die.
Due my travels in Africa, I could see those “killer tourists”, picking up their weapons at the customs after departure. Big, disgusting smiles on their faces, excited to kill. What the people mostly underestimate. A normal healthy mind would never pay money for killing a creature. No matter which one. They are hidden psychopaths and they are among us. So, it’s not only a problem of Africa and nature. It’s not only a protection for wildlife. It is a problem for all of us.. think about it. Pick them out.
Any organisation or family resonate with the tone at the top. The corruption and all clandestine deals used to be rare in the public sector during the Smith Regime thus why at independence and soon after there was much revenue generation from all most any sector of the economy. But when Mugabe came to power it started with the Willowvale scandal code name Sandura Commission and that was the only attempt to nip the corruption, then Mugabe and Mnangagwa and all cabinet ministers and politburo members who happened to be involved but not caught resulting in the death of Nyagumbo after a threat to reveal all. Central committee and even parastatal heads got absolutely corrupt with immunity from Mugabe and his military men. DRC diamonds which were received as assistance for waging a civil war to protect Kabila after the oust of Mobuto went unaccounted for but settled very well in Mugabe and the military’s pockets. After that others and everyone else followed. Obert Mpofu after plundering Monarch and the being a wellknown cattle rustler in matebeleland got ministerial positions and then plundered diamonds in Chiyadzwa resulting in the death of Chindori Chininga what happened to Obert, got another ministry now he wants to establish the Port Authority to get all revenues from the boarders and airports. That will spell doom but because Mugabe is absolutely corrupt old as he is he will accept that if Obert can give guarantees of oiling Mugabe’s big unsatisfied appetite for money and power.
Behead the American and the Pro Hunter.. GREEDY SLAPPERS!!!
There is a God, Angela and He sees everything including ALL the greedy bigwigs being these sort of things. Vengeance is His. It is not for us to hate but may justice be done
These whites are the same people busy blowing whistle the tsuri whole world that Zimbabwe is exporting elephants to China. Better dzirikuenda dziri mhenyu unlike imwi mauraya. We want our lion back. Never abuse something called LION. You will understand why Jesus was called the LION OF JUDAH.
Go to http://wh.gov/iIW6V and sign the Whitehouse petition to have the moron sent back to Zim to face trial. 100000 signatures by 27 August or he walks free and I ain’t having that !!!
Here’s another petition to sign. Do it and help nail the bas**rd !!!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/extradite-minnesotan-walter-james-palmer-face-justice-zimbabwe
Help nail this moron, go to
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/extradite-minnesotan-walter-james-palmer-face-justice-zimbabwe
America remove sanctions then we can forgive your citizen who killed our lion.
@Mike H I do not condone this event in fact quite the opposite I condemn it in the strongest terms possible but I believe a lot of this anger is misdirected.
This American paid his money in good faith believeing his hunt to be legitimate and legal, it is not his fault the PH and the operator were/are a crooked bunch, it is them who need to face the full wrath of the law. Zim has a system in place whereby a PH is required to know the law and hence guide his client on what is legal and what is not thats what he pays the guide/outfitter for!!!
Yes what happened to Cecil is disgusting , but don’t forget that are thousands of people who have been killed and others without trace. Of recent is ITAI DZAMARA a vibrant activist who strongly condemned tyranny
I have fun with, cause I discovered just what I used to be taking a
look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day.
Bye