Cecil: Charge delays for safari farmer File picture of Cecil the lion

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
PROSECUTORS were yesterday battling to come up with an appropriate charge for Honest Trymore Ndlovu, the owner of a safari farm accused of allowing an illegal hunt on his property resulting in the killing of the world famous lion, Cecil.

Ndlovu, who owns Antoinette Farm on the south-east edges of the Hwange National Park, was set to be charged seperately after prosecutors on Wednesday laid poaching charges against 52-year-old Theodro Bronkhorst, 52.

Bronkhorst, who owns Bushmen Safaris which facilitated the hunt, is said to have been paid $50,000 by American dentist Walter James Palmer, 55, for the kill.

Cecil was lured out of the protection of the Hwange National Park after a bait was placed less than two kilometres from the park boundary inside Ndlovu’s safari farm.

Palmer shot the animal with a crossbow.

Prosecutors say neither Ndlovu nor Bronkhorst had permission from the Parks and Wildlife Department to kill a lion, although their hunting permits may have allowed the killing of different animal species.

Prosecutors, who charged Bronkhorst for failing to control an illegal hunt, have to come up with an appropriate charge before summoning Ndlovu to court.

They initially preferred a charge of authorising a hunt for an animal which was not on the list of a hunting quota.

Ndlovu’s lawyer, Tonderai Mukuku, said they will be advised by the State on the next move.

“We’re told that they’re still looking into the charge and they’ll probably proceed by way of summons,” said Mukuku.

Ndlovu was not at the Hwange Magistrates’ Court yesterday when his lawyer arrived in the morning.

Prosecutors said they were likely to be ready with a charge by next Wednesday when Bronkhorst, of Riverside suburb in Bulawayo, is due to appear for trial.

Bronkhorst is out on $1,000 bail and has to report three times a week at Hillside Police Station in Bulawayo, among other bail conditions. The 13-year-old lion with a distinctive black mane, was being tracked by Oxford University of England as part of a research project since 1999.

The animal, which has gained overnight international fame, was baited out of its sanctuary using an animal’s carcass on July 1. Palmer allegedly used a bow and arrow to shoot Cecil and wounded it in the process. He allegedly shot the lion dead some hours later.

Prosecutors have said the lion had a collar with a GPS tracker.

The death of Cecil was only discovered when some researchers at Hwange National Park Main Camp noticed that the lion, valued at $20,000, was stationary on GPS.

Palmer, who said in a statement that he was not aware of Cecil’s protected status, has received death threats from angry animal activities worldwide.

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