The killing of a park lion popularly known as Cecil sparked considerable outrage in and outside Zimbabwe.
An American dentist who claimed to have paid for the right to hunt the lion was identified as the shooter.
Zimbabwean law has criminalized the hunting of park Lions and authorities initially spoke of charging the dentist, Dr. Palmer.
Zimbabwean authorities initially pressed for the extradition of Dr. Walter Palmer in order to face charges but environment minister, Oppah Muchinguri announced that the case has been dropped.
He announced that the case had been dropped because Dr. Palmer had the legal authority to hunt as his “papers were in order”.
Dr. Palmer was initially alleged to have paid Park officials who lured Cecil the lion out of the park where she was shot.