Betty White speaks out against killing of Cecil the lion
Betty White, a longtime animal activist, spoke out against the killing of a protected lion, Cecil, by an American dentist. Credit: AP / Evan Agostini
Betty White, a passionate animal activist, has harsh words for the Minnesota dentist who killed Cecil the lion while on a hunting trip in Zimbabwe this month.
"You don't want to hear some of the things I want to do to that man," the 93-year-old actress told The Associated Press on Thursday.
"It's such a heartbreaker. You can't even talk about it, and to see this king of the jungle and personifying it in very way, this gorgeous creature. How can somebody do that?"
Cecil was drawn from a wildlife preserve and shot by American hunter Walter James Palmer on July 1. Palmer is believed to have shot the lion with a bow and then the wounded cat was tracked for 40 hours before he killed it with a gun.
Palmer released a statement this week through a publicist saying he was with professional guides and believed the hunt was legal. The firm is no longer helping Palmer.
White, who said she's "loved animals since the womb," was promoting a new block of programming in August on Discovery Family Channel called "Pawgust," with shows, specials and movies about animals. White will serve as the host of "Pawgust," and be featured in promos.
"Anything that promotes positive animal knowledge or talk I'm all for," said White of her involvement.
