Stop the world, we want to get off.
A sick couple has been pictured celebrating killing a magnificent lion by sharing a kiss over its dead body in a photograph that has caused an uproar since it was shared across social media.
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In a vile reminder of the popularity of trophy hunting in which lions and other incredible animals are corralled in a confined area and then slaughtered by paying customers, Darren and Carolyn Carter from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada had embarked on a 'canned hunt' experience with Legelala Safaris - one of dozens of companies that target tourists with hunting packages.
The picture was captioned: "Hard work in the hot Kalahari sun...well done. A monster lion."
According to The Mirror, the couple describe themselves as "passionate conservationists", yet due to the rules of the trade, hunters are allowed to bring back the body parts of their kills to their home countries to be flaunted as sick trophies. Seriously, what is wrong with these people?
It's not the first kill for the pair, either. Far from it - Darren and Carolyn own their own taxidermy company and often share pictures of dead animals and creatures they have killed across their Instagram page. Lovely.
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Eduardo Goncalves from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting told the newspaper: "There is nothing romantic about killing an innocent animal. It looks as though this lion was a tame animal killed in an enclosure, bred for the sole purpose of being the subject of a smug selfie."
"This couple should be utterly ashamed of themselves, not showing off and snogging for the cameras," he added.
The horrific practice of trophy hunting was thrust into the limelight in 2015 when American dentist Walter Palmer was scrutinised by the press and public for the killing of Cecil the lion.
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In the past decade, trophy hunters have imported 2,500 animal parts into the UK including the heads and furs of cheetahs, elephants, lions, hippos and zebras.
Legelala offers giraffe hunts for £2,400 and zebra from £2,000, with prices for leopard, rhino, lion and elephant hunts available "on request."
In the wake of the picture it was announced last night that Michael Gove will take steps towards banning imports of hunting trophies, with the Environment Secretary seeking evidence to decide whether to outlaw hunters bringing in their sick souvenirs to the UK, the Daily Mail reported.
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"I find it hard to see how those justifications can be used to defend those who 'hunt' animals, who have been bred in captivity for the specific purpose of dying for others' entertainment," he said.
That's one campaign we can get behind.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
