Cecil the Lion: Zimbabwe Drops Charges Against Theo Bronkhorst

A high court in Zimbabwe court has dropped charges against Theo Bronkhorst , the professional hunter alleged to have helped American dentist Walter Palmer to kill Cecil the lion.

The court ruled that the charges against Theo Bronkhorst “were too vague to enable to him to mount a proper defense”.

Walter Palmer, who killed Cecil the lion last year, was not charged.

Photo AFP/Getty Images

The famed lion – a favorite at Hwange National Park – was shot by Walter Palmer with a bow and arrow.

Walter Palmer is said to have paid about $50,000 to hunt the lion.

Cecil’s killing sparked international outrage, and prompted a global campaign to end lion trophy hunting.

Theo Bronkhorst said in court that he had obtained all the permits required to kill an elderly lion that was outside the national park boundaries.

Cecil the lion attracted photographic safaris and was part of an Oxford research project into lions at the Hwange National Park.