Middletown High School students reacted negatively to recent news that officials in Zimbabwe have chosen not to pursue charges against dentist Walter Palmer for the killing of Cecil the Lion.

Cecil was a black-maned lion that was kept on a reserve and protected until he wandered off in a pursuit of a smell that Walter’s guide had created using a dead animal corpse attached to the front of a vehicle.

James Pugh, MHS sophomore, said that “the act was cruel and inhuman,” he added that, “there should be some penalty.”

Another student was also devastated to hear what happened. Jack Kaminiski, MHS freshman, said that the killing of Cecil the lion was heartbreaking. He said it’s unacceptable that Zimbabwe is not pressing charges against the killer.

However, some students agreed with the reasoning behind the ruling. Nate Spector, MHS senior, said “it’s not that big of a deal… they hunt lions too. It’s the same as if someone came here and shot deer.”

One student made a humorous remark. MHS junior Dale Gaskins said, “we need to throw that guy in a cage of hungry lions.”

The Zimbabwean government requested that the United States extradite the man so that he could be tried in Zimbabwe. The U.S. did not do this, which is why charges were not filed.