Dentist who killed Cecil the lion hires armed security and installs covert cameras after death threats and vandalism at the homes crammed with evidence of his hunting obsession

Lion killing-pariah Walter Palmer has hired a phalanx of private investigators to protect his safari-themed homes from animal rights activists, Daily Mail Online can reveal.

The globally-despised dentist, 55, is spending thousands of dollars a day on armed security and covert CCTV cameras after being deluged with death threats and abuse.

Palmer and his blonde wife Tonette, 56, went into hiding last week after he was unmasked as the fanatical American bow hunter who slaughtered famed big cat, Cecil.

While the wealthy couple remain out of sight, private detective agencies have been tasked with guarding their three lavish properties, which are all crammed with exotic animal heads and mementos from Palmer’s numerous kills.

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Hunting obsession: Walter Palmer’s Florida home is covered in evidence of his passion, including a jet ski lift painted to look like a giraffe

Fanatical interest: His Florida pool has elephant statues on the deck.

Animal decor: Walter Palmer’s Marco Island, Florida, home has a lamp which is apparently also a statue of an antelope or similar creature, while the curtains appear to be animal print

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Closed: Palmer, left, was also forced to close his Minneapolis dental practice after receiving several death threats over the killing of Cecil, right

The main Palmer residence in Eden Prairie, Minnesota has been closely monitored by police and has so far escaped any damage.

But their vacation home in upscale Marco Island, Florida was targeted overnight Monday when vandals sprayed the words ‘lion killer’ on his garage door and dumped pigs’ feet on his driveway.

Daily Mail Online can reveal the $1.1 million waterfront property has a hunting-themed decor, with exotic animals and safari motifs on the wallpaper, drapes and upholstery.

The yard features stone plant pots shaped like Easter Island heads, statues of elephants and a jet ski hoist painted and customized to resemble a giraffe.

Global Investigative Group, a Florida detective agency headed by a former chief of police and US State Department adviser, Walter Zalisko, has been hired to provide round the clock surveillance and armed guards.

‘I certainly hope we don’t see any repeat of what happened,’ Mr Zalisko told Daily Mail Online. ‘But if we do, the people will be caught on camera because we’ve installed closed circuit TV on the property.

‘A lot of those cameras are hidden. We’re able to document all the license plates coming on this street.