Cecil the lion was the world's biggest news story over the summer. The perceived illegal hunt of a beloved Zimbabwe lion by an American dentist was the most covered event on all the major networks, sometimes up to 16 times the coverage of other important news of the time, including the Planned Parenthood videos glorifying the sale of dead baby parts. It earned its own social media hashtag, #CecilTheLion, and earned the hunter, Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer, more death threats than he could count, his home vandalized, and his practice temporarily closed. The Obama administration even vowed to get to the bottom of this "tragic killing."

Well, as it turns out, the Cecil hunt was legal and a cabinet member of the Zimbabwe government told reporters Monday that the country will not be charging the American. Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said:

We approached the police and then the prosecutor general, and it turned out that Palmer came to Zimbabwe because all the papers were in order.

The cabinet member did state that though Palmer is welcome to visit Zimbabwe any time, he will not be allowed any hunting permits in the future.

Two other people are still facing charges in the lion hunt for using bait to lure Cecil from his habitat in the Hwange National Park and allowing "an illegal hunt." These charges have been denied by both parties.

Since the story broke, Palmer has maintained his innocence, saying, "I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.”

But for many around the world, Palmer is still guilty as (not) charged. Conservationist groups are currently pursuing a case against him in the States and promise to "bring justice to him," according to Reuters.

And once again, the dentist's name is being slandered afresh on social media, giving a new spin to Disney's "Circle of Life:"