I wish someone would explain to me what the thrill is in killing an animal just for the fun of it. I grew up in a family of hunters. My dad was out with a gun by the time he was 12 in the Depression years. His best friend was named Robert. So was my dad’s first born, after that hunting pal. He had only two rules: (1) never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to kill and (2) never kill anything you don’t intend to eat. I didn’t inherit his skill or interest in hunting but I respected his approach. Despite my decades in the news business and having seen just about everything, I don’t understand why people would pay huge sums just so they can kill. Cecil the lion was a favorite in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean authorities said that Walter J. Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, paid at least $50,000 for the privilege of hunting Cecil down and killing him so he could hang the magnificent creature’s remains on his dentist office wall. Palmer says he relied on local guides “to ensure a legal hunt.” Two Zimbabwe men were arrested and are out on $1,000 bail. Poaching can carry a 10-year prison sentence. Authorities say Cecil, who wore a collar as a part of a research project, was lured out of his protected sanctuary in Hwange National Park where he was shot by a crossbow but died 40 hours later when shot with a gun. His head and skin were removed. It was a slow death, says the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.
When the story went viral, causing anger around the globe, officials said they were looking for dentist Palmer. They can find him in Minnesota where he has had to shut down his office and disconnect his phone. He also sent a letter to patients apologizing for any inconvenience they may suffer. I don’t know about them, but I wouldn’t go to a dentist office with an animal head on the wall. I want a dentist that is compassionate and caring. I hope Zimbabwe extradicts the dentist and puts him on trial. His excuse that he paid a lot of money to have guides handle things doesn’t pass the smell test. And if I get my wish, when Dr. Palmer is on the stand, I want the prosecutor to ask him what is the joy in killing for the fun of it. I want our government to ban transport of trophy kills coming into U.S. ports. South African Airways already refuses to fly them. All airlines should. I’m no stranger to Africa, as you can tell by some of the photos surrounding this. I “shot” the lion that accompanies this. He and his sons hang on my wall at home. My friends like to see the photos and hear about the stories. I can’t imagine any more joy than that which comes from going home with photos — I took 2,300 on the last trip — and memories of animals being themselves.
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