Charges against a professional hunter accused of allowing an American dentist to kill Cecil the lion have been dropped.

Theo Bronkhorst appeared in a Zimbabwean court charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt after leading Walter Palmer to the animal.

But the court ruled that the charges against him were "too vague to enable to him to mount a proper defence".

Cecil's death in 2015 prompted an international outcry, as well as a worldwide campaign to ban trophy hunting.

The lion, a favourite with visitors to the Hwange National Park, was wearing a GPS collar when he was shot with a bow and arrow and then later a rifle.


Dentist Walter Palmer says he regrets killing Cecil

Mr Bronkhorst's lawyer Perpetua Dube said the court had upheld her application to set aside the accusations, but prosecutors can still press for fresh charges.

The authorities in Zimbabwe said at one point they were considering charging Mr Palmer, but they later dropped the plan.

Mr Palmer, from Minnesota, expressed his "deep regret" for his actions, and said he did not realise the animal was so revered.

He said he had paid the hunters $50,000 (£32,000).

"To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted," he said at the time.

Zimbabwe's iconic lion

"I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favourite, 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."

Mr Bronkhorst, a professional hunter with Bushman Safaris, could have faced 15 years in prison if he had been convicted.

Cecil had a GPS collar so that researchers at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit to track his movements.