Zimbabwean landowner in Cecil the lion’s killing in court as Walter Palmer’s dental clinic reopens

THE owner of the land on which Cecil the lion was killed has appeared in court, as alleged shooter Walter Palmer’s dental practice reopened in the US.

THE owner of the land in western Zimbabwe where Cecil the lion was killed has appeared in court on charges of allowing an illegal hunt.

Honest Ndlovu, proprietor of Antoinette Farm, was not asked to plead when he appeared before the magistrate’s court in the resort town of Hwange on Tuesday.

Magistrate Portia Mhlanga adjourned the session after a brief hearing, granting Ndlovu $US200 ($270) bail.

The landowner was arrested in August following the killing of Cecil in early July by Walter Palmer, an American dentist armed with a bow and arrow who paid $US55,000 to shoot a lion.

Farm owner Honest Trymore Ndlovu was not asked to plead when he appeared before the magistrate’s court. Picture: AP Photo

Walter Palmer’s guide on the expedition, Zimbabwean Theo Bronkhorst, appeared in court last month. Picture: AFP/Zinyange Autony

The hunt provoked worldwide outrage when it emerged Cecil was a favourite attraction among visitors to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and was wearing a tracking collar as part of an Oxford University research project.

Beloved lion ... US authorities launched an investigation into the killing of Cecil the lion. Picture: AFP/Zimbabwe National Parks

He was reportedly lured with bait from the safety of the park on to the neighbouring Antoinette Farm.

Ndlovu is due be back in court on September 18.

Zimbabwe has asked the United States to extradite Palmer to face charges over the hunt.

Big-game hunter ... Walter Palmer with a leopard he killed in Zimbabwe. Picture: Facebook/Trophy Hunt America

Palmer’s guide on the expedition, Zimbabwean Theo Bronkhorst, appeared in court last month and was granted $US1000 bail pending his trial on September 28 on charges of organising an illegal hunt.

Zimbabwe introduced strict hunting restrictions earlier this month in the wake of the killing, but lifted most of them last week.

The news comes as Palmer reopened his Minnesota dental clinic after global condemnation of his killing of Cecil the lion.

Open for business ... a security guard stands outside Dr Walter Palmer's office in Bloomington, Minnesota, as it reopens. Picture: Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP

Palmer’s River Bluff Dental was open for business on Monday, but Palmer was a no-show. The office was shuttered and vandalised in the aftermath of the killing.

“Today, River Bluff Dental employees and dentists are beginning to serve our loyal patients. Dr. Palmer is not on site. Our employees have no comment,” staff said in a statement.