A hunter who paid over $55,000 to kill an African lion was identified as a dentist from the United States.

The Telegraph reported the man’s name is Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota who has often bragged about using a bow and arrow to hunt and kill animals. The lion he killed was a beloved animal from one of the many national parks in Zimbabwe.

The confirmation of Palmer’s identity came from two independent sources and the paper reportedly saw a copy of Palmer’s hunting permit. Cecil the lion was shot in early July at the Hwange National Park.

Zimbabwe Conservation groups were very upset at the news of the 13-year-old lion’s death, especially as he was known to enjoy contact from human visitors and the fact that he was lured from the park before he was shot.

Johnny Rodrigues with the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said, “He never bothered anybody. He was one of the most beautiful animals to look at.”

FoxNews.com reported that the animal was lured out of the park by about a mile and he was discovered 40 hours later before being killed. His hunters had removed the collar around his neck, which is against the national park rules.

Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst reported the “mistake” to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. He, along with the landowner of the property where Cecil was killed, were arrested and have a court date on Aug. 6.

The Zimbabwe National Parks made a statement, “Both the professional hunter and the land owner had no permit or quota to justify the offtake of the lion and therefore are liable for the illegal hunt.”

The Guardian reported that Cecil leaves behind a pack that includes cubs, who are in danger of being killed by the “next lion in the hierarchy,” Conservation authorities said.

Screenshot via Bryan Orford YouTube channel.