Breaking cover: Lion killer dentist Walter Palmer returns to work

A US dentist who killed Cecil the Lion during a $50,000 hunt at Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe has returned to work at his practice. Walter Palmer, who faced a global backlash after it emerged the lion had been killed in July, entered his office in suburban Minneapolis on Tuesday morning without commenting to waiting journalists. A member of staff from the clinic met him on the pavement, grabbed his arm and walked him through members of the media to the front door.

If I had known this lion had a name and was important to the country or a study obviously I wouldn’t have taken it.

Walter Palmer, speaking on Sunday

Employees have also been escorting patients from their vehicles into the building. A small group of protesters gathered outside the clinic, with some shouting “extradite Palmer” as he walked past. Mr Palmer’s practice was temporarily closed as controversy over Cecil’s killing raged. It reopened in August without Mr Palmer, who described himself as “heartbroken” for causing disruption to his staff. Zimbabwe has said it was the dentist to face charges but there has been no movement on possible extradition.

Cecil dentist Americas