Dr. Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who killed a well-known lion named Cecil, said in a letter to his patients that he "deeply regrets" the incident and apologized for the inconvenience the media attention has caused, according to the Fox affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul that published the letter.
Palmer's dentistry office has been closed since the killing of Cecil gained international attention, sparking an outpouring of vitriol. Angry commenters overwhelmed Palmer's Yelp page as celebrities — including Jimmy Kimmel, who teared up while talking about it — spoke out against his actions. The 55-year-old Palmer reportedly paid hunting guides in Zimbabwe $55,000 to lure Cecil, who he then wounded with a bow and arrow, and later beheaded and skinned. Authorities in the African nation have arrested two Zimbabwean men on poaching charges and are seeking the same charges for Palmer, according to The New York Times. The owner of the property where Cecil was shot did not have a license to shoot the lion, authorities allege. And now Time reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which said in a statement that it's "deeply concerned" about Cecil's killing, is gathering information about the issue and ready to assist Zimbabwe officials. Palmer said in his July 28th letter that he has not been contacted by authorities from Zimbabwe or the U.S., and pledged to work with them should they reach out.
Here's the full letter:
To my valued patients:
As you may have already heard, I have been in the news over the last few days for reasons that have nothing to do with my profession or the care I provide for you. I want you to know of this situation and my involvement In addition to spending time with my family, one of my passions outside dentistry is hunting. I've been a life-long hunter since I was a child growing up in North Dakota. I don't often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic. I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.
In early July, I was in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip for big game. 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. 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. I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have.
Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion. That was never my intention. The media interest in this matter – along with a substantial number of comments and calls from people who are angered by this situation and by the practice of hunting in general – has disrupted our business and our ability to see our patients. For that disruption, I apologize profoundly for this inconvenience and promise you that we will do our best to resume normal operations as soon as possible. We are working to have patients with immediate needs referred to other dentists and will keep you informed of any additional developments. On behalf of all of us at River Bluff Dental, thank you for your support.
Sincerely, Walter J. Palmer, DDS River Bluff Dental
