Nat Young

The American dentist who shot a lion during what officials allege was an illegal trophy-hunt in Zimbabwe, has apologized — but only for the disruption caused to his dental patients, NBC News reported. 

Life-long hunter Walter James Palmer received a barrage of condemnation for killing Cecil, who was popular with tourists and was tagged by researchers in 2008 as part of a study at the U.K.'s Oxford University. Protests forced Palmer to shut his Minnesota dental practice doors and disappear from public view.

In a letter sent to his patients Palmer said: "I apologize profoundly for this inconvenience and promise you that we will do our best to resume normal operations as soon as possible."

Zimbabwe wildlife officials allege Palmer paid $50,000 to guides who used meat to lure the animal out of a protected wildlife reserve. He then shot and injured the lion with a bow, before tracking it for 40 hours and killing it with a gun, according to officials.

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