Apparently Walter Palmer, the dentist who shot and killed Cecil the Lion, will not be charged in Zimbabwe.

Courtesy of the Guardian:  

Zimbabwe will not charge American dentist Walter Palmer for killing a prized lion in July because he had obtained legal authority to conduct the hunt, a cabinet minister has said. 

“We approached the police and then the prosecutor general, and it turned out that Palmer came to Zimbabwe because all the papers were in order,” the environment minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, told reporters, adding that the American could not be charged. 

Palmer, from Minnesota, has always maintained that he believes he acted legally. Last month he told the Associated Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he was stunned to find out his hunting party had killed one of Zimbabwe’s treasured animals.

Yeah, I guess the negative publicity really ruined the thrill of killing an animal that he lured off of a game preserve with an elephant carcass. My heart bleeds.

What's more they only wounded this magnificent animal and let it suffer for several hours before tracking it and killing it.

But hey if Zimbabwe doesn't think they have enough reason to charge this guy then what can you do?

In response to social media outrage Zimbabwe bans hunting of lions, leopards, and elephants outside of national park.

Cecil the lion

Courtesy of 9 News: 

Zimbabwe's wildlife authorities have suspended the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants around the country's biggest game reserve following the killing of a much-loved lion by a US dentist. 

"Hunting of lions, leopards and elephant in areas outside of Hwange National Park has been suspended with immediate effect," Edson Chidziya, head of Zimbabwe's parks and wildlife authority Zimparks, said in a statement. 

The parks body also suspended hunting with bows and arrows, except with permission from the authority's head. 

"All such hunts will only be conducted if confirmed and authorized in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and only if accompanied by parks staff," Chidziya said. 

The clampdown follows an international furore over the killing of Cecil the lion, a favourite with international tourists, who was shot with a bow and arrow by Walter Palmer outside Hwange park in early July. 

I have to say that I think this is the most impressive demonstration of the impact of social media that I have ever seen. 

I keep telling my often skeptical daughter that we can still change things if we work together and this is proof of that.

And not only is the hunting ban in place but Walter Palmer is currently still in hiding, and Zimbabwe is still working to extradite his loser ass back to Africa so that he can stand trial for the illegal hunt.

Hopefully this ban is permanent, and will be expanded, and is not just a stunt to deflect criticism until this whole thing dies down.