Walter Palmer, the American dentist who hunted and killing Cecil, Zimbabwe’s famous and most beloved lion, on a hunting trip, is now being hounded online by angry protesters flooding his social media and creating online petitions.
The Minnesotan native has said he “deeply regrets” killing the 13-year-old lion, who was found shot, skinned and decapitated beyond the safety of the Hwange National Park, where he had been a draw card for tourists. He added that he “had no idea” Cecil the lion was a “known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper permits. To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.”
Dental practice belonging to controversial big game hunter Walter Palmer completely locked down. All shades drawn. pic.twitter.com/opvzJp8ea9
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) July 28, 2015
But his apology has fallen flat on Twitter where the hashtag #WalterPalmer is being used to hurl insults and threats at the dentist, who allegedly paid at least $50,000 to hunt and kill the animal. Palmer’s Facebook page for his dental practice, River Bluff Dental, was flooded with expletives directed towards him and death threats. The website was seemingly taken down Tuesday evening and was not up as of Wednesday morning. Palmer’s Yelp page for his practice has also received an overwhelming amount of sarcastic reviews attacking him for killing Cecil. The page was still up as of Wednesday morning.
Less negativity! More positivity please! Cecil would want this for us. #CecilTheLion #lionslivesmatter pic.twitter.com/cMw9ZRnmDU
— River Bluff Dental (@RiverBlufDental) July 29, 2015
A parody Twitter account was created in the name of Palmer’s practice – River Bluff Dental – to mock the dentist, and fooled members of the baying mob. “Less negativity! More positivity please!” read one tweet, accompanied with a #LionsLivesMatter hashtag. “Are you trying to make light of the death of a legendary lion?” asked one of many users who thought the account was real.
Now a petition demanding “Justice for Cecil”, created prior to Palmer’s admission and requesting the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, stop issuing hunting licences, has now soared past 300,000 signatures. Recent signatories are directing their ire at the dentist, regardless. “Make an example of this dentist,” wrote one British signatory.
Twitter insults were hurled by model Cara Delevingne, actress Alyssa Milano and presenter Sharon Osbourne, who between them have 8.39 million followers.
This #WalterPalmer is a poor excuse of a human being!
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) July 28, 2015
I believe that sorry dentist #WalterPalmer is hearing the lion’s roar right about now. #animalrights… https://t.co/kYJYI80qyi — Juliette Lewis (@JulietteLewis) July 29, 2015
Palmer isn’t the first, and will no doubt be the last, hunter whose pastime is vilified online. Past examples suggest that the outcry over the latest trophy hunter’s kill is unlikely to die down any time soon.
