I'm not surprised DSC and SCI suspended membership. I suspect that within our organizations bylaws there is something about conduct that brings negative publicity (or some such wording) to the organization can be cause. And, I haven't seen anything written on this site or elsewhere that is something more than a quote or I read, etc. to provide additional insights as to what really occurred. Until something comes out that is more factually based, maybe from the Zimbabwe courts, I'll just wait to see what happens.
Don't think DSC suspended Palmer. Also don't think Palmer was a member of DSC.
SCI suspended Palmer. I agree with Bob. I would hope an organization I was a member of would wait to hear the facts prior to rushing to judgment. Now the big question for SCI is, why was Palmer a member in the first place. Why didn't they refuse membership for his poaching the bear a few years ago.
Palmer says he didn't know he was shooting some famous lion, but his guides should have known!
I sure in the hell don't like the media badgers him all the time in asking how much money he spent to hunt "Cecil". I would have responded back how much have you given for wildlife conservation....nothing.....then shut up.
enysse,
Bronkhorst might should have known, but we are assuming that Cecil was famous. From what I understand, he wasn't as well known as the media would like us to think. One individual in the area I have communicated with didn't know who Cecil was. Another knew who he was by description and location (Massive maned lion in x area of park) but didn't know his name. Sure the individuals involved in the study knew who he was. They had a collar on him. The people at the lodge/s close to Cecil's territory knew who he was because they saw him all the time and guided photo groups to see him. (Not sure if they tracked the collar to find him or not) Some people that photographed him might have remembered the name Cecil. I have heard that some people high up in Zim parks had no clue who he was. They were calling Hwange and asking who he was and why hadn't they heard/seen of him if he was so famous. Some of the people in the parks department at Hwange had to then call around to find out who he was because they didn't know. Sounds like a Zim version of keystone cops.
Seems the story was picked up by a local blogger, then Johnny Rodriguez and some other animal rights people picked it up and fabricated an entire storyline making Cecil famous posthumously.
If there was going to be quota transfer going on then no way would Bronkhorst./Ndlouvu have wanted a collared lion due to GPS tracking. (I am not saying this was the case. Quota transfer just seems to be the most logical choice since evidently Antoinette didn't have quota. Either instigated by Bronkhorst or by Ndlouvu telling Bronkhorst he had quota and Bronkhorst believing him without checking) We will need to wait for the trials.
Palmer wounds a big lion at night. They follow up the next day and dispatch him. Admiring the lion they notice a collar. (I have seen probably 15-20 different photos/videos of Cecil during the day and only noticed a collar in one photo) It may have been an "Oh Crud" moment for either Bronkhorst/Ndlouvu.
And yes. I have spent way too much time reading and following up on this topic.
You provide valuable information.
