Dentist who killed beloved lion in Zimbabwe apologizes for the 'inconvenience' to his patients

Cecil the lion
(Image credit: Andy Loveridge/AP)

Walter J. Palmer, the dentist who killed Zimbabwe's famous lion, Cecil, apologized for the "inconvenience" that his newfound infamy has caused to patients of his clinic in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Palmer wrote in a letter obtained by Minneapolis' Fox 9 that he hadn't 'intended' to kill the lion, despite having paid $55,000 to men who helped him to lure it out of a wildlife park to be shot.

"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," Palmer said.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.