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Cecil the lion was one of the oldest and most famous lions in Zimbabwe until he was killed and skinned by a hunter. Now, Cecil's killer as been named. A dentist from Eden Prairie Minnesota has been identified as the man who payed two locals in Zimbabwe over $50,000 to lure the animal to it's death. Reuters and NBC News reported that wildlife officials said Walter James Palmer was the tourist who killed Cecil.

Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, told reporters that the lion was lured out of Hwange National Park using a bait and was shot by the Palmer with a crossbow. Rodrigues said the American paid Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst and Honest Ndlovu, a private game park owner, to lure the 13-year-old Cecil. Both will face poaching charges on Wednesday in Hwange for the killing of the lion on July 1.

Palmer told NBC News he had the correct permits, and had worked with local guides, and had no reason to question the legitimacy of the hunt until after it was over.

The 55 year-old Palmer already has a conviction for poaching a bear in Wisconsin several years ago. Palmer said he will cooperate with investigators.

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