His dental practice in Minnesota has been closed since he was named as the tourist who shot Cecil, Zimbabwe's most famous lion.
Two Zimbabwean men have been charged over Cecil's death and local police say Mr. Palmer could face poaching charges.
Mr. Palmer says he thought the hunt was legal and didnot know Cecil was protected. In his letter to his clients on Tuesday, Palmer wrote that he had been in the news for reasons that had nothing to do with his profession or the care he provides to his parients.
He said he was a life long hunter and rarely discussed his passion because he knew it could be a divisive and emotionally charged topic. Palmer insisted that he thought the hunt was legal and said he will assist authorities in the United States and Zimbabwe on the issue.
Cecil the Lion was a major tourist attraction at Zimbabwe's largest game reserve in Hwange National Park. Cecil has a GPS collar fitted for a research project by United Kingdom based Oxford University that allowed authorities to track its movements.
Mr. Palmer is said to have shot and injured Cecil with a bow and arrow and he and his group tried to destroy the GPS collar fitted on him but failed according to Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF).
Over 100 protesters stood around Palmer's dental practice office holding various posters some which read, " Justice for Cecil" "Trophy Hunters are cowards".
Meanwhile the Zimbabwean charged with Cecil's death, the professional hunter, Theo Bronkhost has been granted bail and is to appear in court on August 5. His co-accused, farm owner, Honest Ndlovu will appear at a later date.
At Walter Palmer's office
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