Minnesota Dentist Receives Outrage After Killing Beloved Zimbabwe Lion, Cecil

A Minnesota dentist is probably hiding under his desk at the office after he paid $55,000 to hunt, and kill the beloved Zimbabwe Lion, Cecil.

According to Salon, Dr. Walter J. Palmer has been catching "hell" from people all over the world after he decided to shoot the 13-year-old lion during his trip to Africa earlier this month. Not only is social media sending the doctor harsh comments, but Dr. Palmer's place of business seems to be getting the fire from his actions too!

The site claims that Palmer's Yelp page has been slammed with thousands of outraged people who vowed to never do business with him after killing one of the most prized animals in the world.

Some comments look like this:

"This dentist is a scumbag poacher who kills endangered species in national parks for sport. He is an awful human being who deserves to be indiscriminately shot like the helpless animals he pays somebody to set up for a kill. I hope he rots for his horrible, inhumane crimes against the animal world."

"Walter Palmer.....how does it feel now to be hunted by the world....like you hunt down defenseless magnificent and beautiful Animals??? You are an evil human!! Next time you watch the Lion King, with your kids, why not explain to them....How YOU killed the Lion king!!! Why would anyone, anywhere trust a heartless dentist to work on their teeth.

 I hope Zimbabwe extradites you back there to face charges with your 2 corrupt guides....who have already been arrested."

"Dear Mr. Walter, Please share my condolences with your wife for having married such a gutless, empty piece of sh*t. Please share my condolences with your kids for having such a soulless f&%^tard for a father. Please feel free to clean your rifle while both you and it are loaded. And please think of that lion when your business fails because no one wants to patronize a cowardly scumbag."

"Narcissistic arrogant dentist. Clearly hunting larger game to make up for his lack of manhood. Why would anyone go and give business to a man who breaks the law, but also does less than the standard of care in dentistry?!"

According to People, Dr. Palmer regrets hunting down the lion. Cecil was shot with an bow and arrow and then later shot with a gun.

Palmer, 55, released a statement on Tuesday blaming the hired guides for allowing Cecil to be killed.

"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," the statement said.

"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."

Cecil was part of an Oxford University research project and wore a GPS collar, but it was taken off when he was lured out of the Hwange National Park with food, and then killed on July 6.

The operator of the safari that let the killing happen has been arrested, and is currently awaiting a hearing on Aug. 6.

A Facebook statement by the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association (which has since been removed) revealed that one of their own hunters was in charge of the safari.

"ZPHGA therefore with immediate effect, suspend his membership indefinitely," the statement read. "The professional hunter and company he works for have been co-operative in the investigation."

More people across the word mourned the death of the beloved lion.

Ban trophy hunting before it causes extinction. #RIPCecil pic.twitter.com/AXNR5DlpF7

— Brandie Irwin (@bumbled_beez) July 28, 2015

#RIPCecil the loved lion who was famous 4 its magazine, photos, & more the dentist in Minnesota should be punished & put in prison for life — Kyle Mason (@KyleMason365) July 28, 2015

This Cecil the Lion story is awful! So sad for an animal to be slaughtered like that. makes me sick #CecilTheLion #RIPCecil

— Kathy Hanrahan (@WRALeighWood) July 28, 2015

A photo posted by Behati Prinsloo Levine (@behatiprinsloo) on Jul 28, 2015 at 9:57am PDT

A photo posted by Charlotte Goodman (@cgoodman5) on Jul 28, 2015 at 2:49pm PDT

Rest in peace, Cecil the Lion. Poaching must be stopped. #cecilthelion #nopoaching A photo posted by Maxwell Dwight Harden (@haxwellmarden) on Jul 28, 2015 at 2:49pm PDT

Hopefully one of Cecil's 24 cubs will be famous like their father.

Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said sadly, "He never bothered anybody, he was one of the most beautiful animals to look at."

RIP Cecil.