'Trophy Hunting' Incidents That Will Leave You Wondering Whether Man Has Any Compassion Left For Animals

A trophy hunter's main agenda is to kill wild animals for fun and then brag about it. They compete with each other to win prizes in trophy hunting and earn the top prize from Safari Club International and such. To win this, a trophy hunter would have to kill over 300 wild animals in several different categories. There are nearly 50 such categories.

Animal activists and conservationists have been trying for decades to get the trophy hunters to stop but a recent incident from South Africa has made it clear that there is no end to their sadistic need to kill an animal.

Here are some incidents involving the killing of wild animals by trophy hunters that will leave you questioning humanity.

1. Trophy hunter killed a giraffe on Valentine's day trip and showed off its bloody heart on Facebook

A South African farm owner is on the receiving end of severe backlash after she posted pictures with the heart of a giraffe she shot and killed during a trophy hunting trip earlier this month. Merelize van der Merwe took to Facebook to show off the bloodied organ.

She said she had been wanting to hunt a 'big black giraffe bull' since 2016 and was pictured holding a gun next to the dead body of a large giraffe.

Ever since she posted pictures of her 'romantic getaway' on the social media platform, people condemned her actions and even her Facebook account was flagged for animal cruelty. However, no action has been taken yet.

Facebook

2. US trophy hunter paid $110,000 (Rs 79.78 lakh) to kill rare Astore markhor mountain goat in Pakistan

American hunter Bryan Kinsel Harlan paid a record $110,000 to shoot a rare Astore markhor mountain goat on a tourist expedition to Pakistan¡¯s northern Himalayan region of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The hunter was captured on video climbing through mountains in Pakistan's northern Gilgit region. Before shooting the goat, he high-fived with guides and then pulled the animal by its horns. According to Pakistani media, this was the highest ever paid for a hunt in the country.

Many people called the killing cruel and lashed at the hunter on social media.

MarketWatch

3. Trophy hunter crept up on a sleeping Zimbabwe lion and shot it

Guy Gorney, 64, of Manhattan, Illinois had sneaked up on a sleeping lion and shot it. He enjoyed the slow kill as the poor lion writhed in pain. In an interview a few laters after the incident, Guy said he has no remorse and has killed over 70 animals such as elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo.

Needless to say, once the incident became public knowledge, the hunter was called out for his inhumane actions.

Facebook

4. American trophy hunter killed a mountain lion and posted a picture covered in blood

A blonde woman killed a mountain lion and a picture of her covered in the animal's blood was shared by wildlife activist group Prairie Protection Colorado (PPC) on Facebook.

The photograph showed a blonde woman holding the body of a dead mountain lion and another showing her smiling and displaying her bloodied hands.

Local media had identified her as Franchesca "Franny" Esplin.

This was shared as the caption when the photographs were posted on social media: 'This is the mentality of people who kill predator species for sport and fun. Make no mistake that Colorado's wildlife policies and officials support this insane looting of Colorado's wildlife.'

Facebook

5. US hunter killed a giraffe and said its meat 'tasted delicious'

Tess Talley of Kentucky, USA killed a giraffe in South Africa in 2017. Pictures of the same went viral in 2018 and her insensitive comments on how the meat is delicious and the skin would make fabulous pillows led to a lot of backlash from animal activists and animal lovers.

In an interview with CBS News' Adam Yamaguchi, Talley had revealed that she has made decorative pillows and a gun case out of the slain giraffe, which she described as "delicious."

Also read: Giraffes May Join The List Of Extinct Animals Due To Rampant Trophy Hunting

CBS

6. A couple kissed next to the dead body of a lion they had killed

This trophy couple's idea of 'romance' was to kiss while sitting next to the dead body of a lion they had just killed in cold blood. The Canadian couple had hunter the animal down in South Africa.

Media reports had suggested that the lion had been bred in captivity and confined in a small enclosure at a canned hunt facility. These are establishments that profit off the exploitation of animals from cradle to grave.

Humane Society

7. Donald Trump Jr. had hunted argali sheep during a trip to Mongolia

Protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act, an argali sheep was killed by Donald Trump Jr. during a trip to Mongolia which outraged Americans. According to a ProPublica report, Trump¡¯s hunt was partially funded by U.S. and Mongolian taxpayers because each country sent security services to accompany the president¡¯s eldest son and grandson on the trip.

It was also reported that Trump Jr. did not have a Mongolian permit to kill the argali. He was issued a permit by the Mongolian government only after he had already departed the country. This was clearly a hasty attempt to cover up a violation of Mongolian law.

Humane Society/ Retro

What are your thoughts on trophy hunting? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: These Eight Cases Of Brutal Animal Cruelty Shows How Much We Have Failed As Human Beings