US dentist Walter Palmer shot dead and beheaded Cecil the lion. Photo / Supplied
US dentist Walter Palmer shot dead and beheaded Cecil the lion. Photo / Supplied
The US dentist who achieved worldwide notoriety for killing the most famous lion in Africa paid out US$127,500 in 2009 to settle a sexual harassment claim.
The settlement was made to a former employee at Dr Walter Palmer's Minneapolis practice who alleged that Dr Palmer subjected her to "ongoing and unwelcome sexual harassment by, but not limited to, verbal comments and physical conduct involving her breasts, buttocks and genitalia".
The woman alleged that Dr Palmer, who has gone into hiding since he slaughtered Cecil the lion, was asked to stop his behavior, but continued. Her complaint also alleges she also lost her job because she reported his alleged untoward conduct.
Dr Palmer said that he settled financially to "conclude the matter quickly and efficiently" and it did not amount to any admission of wrongdoing.
The Minnesota Board of Dentistry in reply ruled that the complaint was officially dismissed and Dr Palmer was required to complete a course in ethics.
This unwelcome revelation about his life follows an unprecedented online and social media backlash against the dentist-hunter for his role in the death of Cecil.
Condemnation came from all quarters, including an emotional evisceration by Jimmy Kimmel during his monologue on Tuesday night.
Palmer, left, poses with another lion he killed. His has boasted his weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. Photo / Supplied
And on Wednesday, the two professional guides that Palmer hired to help him and hunt and a kill a lion after paying a $55,000 permit fee appeared in court in Zimbabwe charged with poaching.
Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu allegedly assisted Dr Palmer, who has since received death threats, catch and kill the lion.
Dr Palmer claims he had trusted his local guides to meet legal guidelines on his trip to Africa, during which he shot Cecil with a crossbow on July 1 before skinning and beheading him.
The two Zimbabwean men appeared at Hwange magistrates' court, about 435 miles west of the capital Harare, to face poaching charges today.
Stuffed animals adorn the doorstep of Dr Palmer's dental practice. Photo / AP
Artist Mark Balma paints a mural of Cecil as part of a silent protest outside Dr Palmer's office. Photo / AP
Meanwhile as the controversy raged and Dr Palmer still remained out of public sight, he issued a letter of apology to his patients for any inconvenience.
Explaining that he was a "life long hunter" who refrained from talking about his passion because he is aware of the deep emotions it stirs, Dr Palmer said that he was sorry his dental practice had closed.
He expressed regret that he specifically killed Cecil because he was unaware of the lions protected status.
He thanked his patients for support and hoped that the disruption would end sooner rather than later.
Tributes to the butchered lion have poured in at Dr Palmer's office in Bloomington, Minnesota, where protesters dressed as "dentist hunters" also threw stuffed lions at his house.
The hunter's office and practice website have become a target for animal rights activists disgusted by the dentist's actions, which have resulted in Zimbabwe authorities demanding to speak with him.
