I received an email from an outfitter in Canada last evening. These are people I have hunted with twice, and I both believe them and trust them. They have some friends hunting in Zimbabwe right now, or last week. They shared a different view of this entire situation. To explain why I trust these people beyond leading me on hunts - They are currently double checking the facts shared with them by those who shared them.
The information shared is that the only item in question may be the forged or invalid quota paperwork. Hunting, shooting, taking, etc., a collared or tagged lion is legal; the hunting sight was baited, which is normal practice, but the lion was not lured off the preserve by dragging a carcass through the preserve; the lion was not caged or netted to keep it off the preserve until the dentist was ready; and what we are hearing about Zimbabwe officials demanding return of Dr. Palmer and him evading detention is not true.
Much of what they shared matches with many items shared early in the news concerning this, but many of these facts changed or disappeared in the following days. I am waiting as my friends check this out, but I suspect that when all is said and done this entire episode will turn out to be 95% political correct crowd BS, and I will be asking "What did we miss during the smoke and mirrors redirection of our attention?".