More than 265,000 individuals have signed an online petition with the hope of avenging the death of Cecil; Zimbabwe’s most famous lion.

Theo Bronkhorst and Honest Ndlovu are expected to appear in court for poaching offences since they did not have the required hunting permit.

Walter Palmer; the US dentist who shot the animal with a crossbow and rifle outside Hwange National Park had a felony record in the US having killed a black bear in the state of Wisconsin nine years ago.

He was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000 (£1,900), having shot the animal outside an authorised zone and then trying to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere.

Also in the list of Mr Palmer’s unsavoury records include a sexual harassment complaint leveled against him in which he agreed to pay out more than $127,000 after admitting to have made the indecent comments.

Palmer however insisted he was unaware of the lion's identity after facing interrogations.

The two Zimbabwean men, who accompanied him on the hunt, will appear in court in Victoria Falls, and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

 Palmer says he regrets shooting the well-known animal and believed he was on a legal hunt, saying he relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits.

The American dentist is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to the Zimbabweans who were privy to his mission.

Cecil the lion was skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity.

Palmer insists that he believed his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt.

"I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the US but would "assist them in any inquiries they may have".

The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown.

"Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion," he said.

The dental practice run by Mr Palmer was closed on Tuesday and a note was placed on the door referring visitors to a public relations firm.