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Police in Minnesota are investigating reports of a threat against a dentist who killed Zimbabwe's most famous lion just outside a national wildlife preserve, sparking a global firestorm of hate messages on social media, according to Reuters.

Demonstrators were gathering on Wednesday afternoon outside the suburban Minneapolis office of Walter Palmer, 55, an avid big game hunter, who said in a statement he regrets killing the huge cat known as Cecil on July 1. He said he had hired professional local guides who secured hunting permits and believed the hunt was legal.

As of Tuesday, Palmer had temporarily closed his office, River Bluff Dental, in Bloomington, Minnesota, amid wishes for his death and widespread criticism of his hunting on social media and under business reviews on Google and Yelp.

Cecil, a distinctive black-maned lion, was lured out of Hwange National Park using a bait and was wounded with a bow and arrow, and not shot dead until 40 hours later.

Bloomington Police have stepped up patrols around the office are investigating a phoned-in threat, Deputy Chief Mike Hartley said.
"A terroristic threats report related to this incident was taken by our police department yesterday and will be investigated like any other similar offense report," Hartley said in an email.

If found guilty, Bronkhorst could be fined $20,000 and possibly jailed for up to 10 years.