As the outrage continued to grow over the hunting death of one of Africa's most iconic lions, two Zimbabwean men who allegedly received $50,000 from the American tourist who killed Cecil the lion arrived in court to face poaching charges related to the illegal hunt, Reuters reported. Professional hunter Theo Bronchorst and land owner Honest Trymore Ndlovu allegedly tied a dead animal to a vehicle to lure the beloved lion outside a national park so that American Walter James Palmer could kill him, according to conservationists in Zimbabwe. It’s a huge loss and people are grieving.” 
 
 The Zimbabwean Parks & Wildlife Authority said Bronkhorst and the local landowner, Honest Ndlovu, will appear in court in Victoria Falls on Wednesday to face poaching charges. They were charged with poaching offenses and for not having the required hunting permit, according to the BBC, which reported that the men were granted bail of $1,000 each and ordered to appear in court again next week. This is really reckless.” 
 
 Cecil’s death is yet another blow to Zimbabwe’s economy, which is teetering under president Robert Mugabe. A photo of Walter James Palmer, the American dentist accused of killing Cecil the lion. Rodrigues added: “Cecil was skinned and beheaded … Walter Palmer apparently paid $50,000 for the kill and we assume Theo Bronkhorst received this money.” 
 
 Initially his organisation had said the whereabouts of Cecil’s head was unknown, sparking concerns that it would be sent abroad as a trophy. [The death of Cecil the lion and the big business of big game trophy hunting] 
 
 Zimbabwean authorities said Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, could face charges as well; he has been accused by wildlife officials of killing Cecil without a permit, Reuters reported. “Both the professional hunter and land owner had no permit or quota to justify the offtake of the lion and therefore are liable for the illegal hunt,” it added. Palmer, who has reportedly left Zimbabwe, said Tuesday that "I deeply regret" having killed "a known, local favorite" and that he may have been misled by his hunting guides. How the internet descended on Walter Palmer 
 
 Image copyright Twitter Image caption Social media commentators condemned Mr Palmer 
 
 Mr Palmer insists that he believed his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt. “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.” 
 
 He added: “I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. “I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.” 
 
 Palmer, who is from Eden Prairie, just outside of Minneapolis, said he had not been contacted by authorities – either in Zimbabwe or the US – about the situation, but was willing to answer any questions they might have for him. “I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity that I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,” he said. [OPINION: What justice for Cecil the Lion would actually look like] 
 
 Palmer said he hasn't been contacted by American or Zimbabwean officials "but will assist them in any inquires they may have."  Image copyright Reuters Image caption Hunter Theo Bronkhorst (left) and landowner Honest Ndlovu are facing poaching charges 
 
 A hunter accused of helping a US tourist kill Zimbabwe's most famous lion has been released on bail. Image copyright Paula French/Facebook Image caption Walter Palmer, who killed Cecil, said he had no idea the lion was a "local favourite" 
 
 Cecil is believed to have died on 1 July, but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later. Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, called for Palmer to be prosecuted as a criminal. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Stuffed toys were left by protesters outside Mr Palmer's workplace 
 
 The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown. — frances koncan (@franceskoncan) July 28, 2015 
 
 I’d love to go hunting for killer dentist Dr Walter Palmer, so I can stuff & mount him for MY office wall. Citing court records, Palmer pleaded guilty in 2008 to making a false statement to U.S. wildlife officials regarding the location of a black bear killing in Wisconsin during a guided hunt, the New York Times reported. The dentist was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000, having shot the creature outside an authorised zone and then tried to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere. Noting that Palmer had learned to shoot at age five and was “capable of skewering a playing card from 100 yards with his compound bow,” the article said he had paid $45,000 at auction to take part in the hunt, with the proceeds being used to help fund the elk habitat. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, a nongovernmental organization, alleged that the hunters purposefully lured Cecil out of the park. Killer of Cecil the lion was dentist from Minnesota, claim Zimbabwe officials Read more 
 
 Cecil the lion, known for his black mane, was about 13 years old and a famous attraction for wildlife tourists in Zimbabwe until, earlier this month, he was tempted outside a national park using bait and shot with a bow and arrow. The group did not find the wounded lion until 40 hours later, when he was shot dead with a gun. Lions in Africa 35,000 Max estimated lion population 12,000 Max lion population in southern Africa 665 Approx number of 'trophy' lions killed for export from Africa per year 
 
 49 Lion 'trophies' exported from Zimbabwe in 2013 
 
 0.29% Contribution to GDP of Zimbabwe from trophy hunting 
 
 17% Of Zimbabwe's land given to trophy hunting AFP 
 
 The animal had a GPS collar fitted for a research project by UK-based Oxford University that allowed authorities to track its movements.
– It's the dawn of a new, uncomfortable day for Dr. Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who achieved infamy yesterday when it was revealed he was the hunter who felled the beloved lion Cecil in Zimbabwe. The New York Times and Washington Post today have more on how Palmer and his guides lured the 13-year-old lion out of his sanctuary in Hwange National Park: According to the chair of the non-governmental Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, Palmer's party sighted the lion at night using a spotlight, and affixed a dead animal to their car to lead Cecil from the reserve into unprotected territory. It claims the men scented an area about three-tenths of a mile from the park. Cecil was first injured by a shot from Palmer's crossbow, then killed nearly two days later by Palmer, via gun. Chair Johnny Rodrigues alleges that "the hunters then found that the dead lion was wearing a [GPS] tracking collar, which they unsuccessfully tried to hide." Cecil was skinned and beheaded, and his body "left to rot in the sun," as the Times puts it. Rodrigues yesterday said the head has been tracked down and impounded as evidence, reports the Guardian. The BBC adds that it's thought Cecil was killed July 1, though his corpse wasn't found until days later. Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association say "ongoing investigations to date suggest that the killing of the lion was illegal since the land owner was not allocated a lion on his hunting quota for 2015. Therefore, all persons implicated in this case are due to appear in court facing poaching charges." Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and landowner Honest Ndlovu accompanied Palmer and are making that court appearance today; the poaching charges carry up to 15 years. A parks and wildlife rep told the Post professional hunters and landowners are usually the first to be charged in these instances. Palmer is reportedly being sought in connection with the case. Here's what Palmer has to say.