Photo: Getty
Darren and Carolyn Carter have felt the wrath of the Internet this week.
According toThe Independent, the Canadian couple recently went on a trophy hunting trip to South Africa, where they shot and killed at least two lions. The pair, who run a taxidermy shop together, according toCBS News, postedphotos of two different lion kills to social media, including one shot that shows the Carters kissing next to the body of a male lion they shot moments before.
“Hard work in the hot Kalahari sun,”The Independentreports they wrote underneath the photo. “A monster lion.”
“There is nothing like hunting the king of the jungle,” the couple wrote along with a different shot of a dead lion, according to the outlet.
South Africa’s Legelela Safaris also posted the photo of the Canadian couple kissing next to the body of the dead lion as well, though it is unclear if the Carters went on their hunting trip with Legelela Safaris. The safari has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The shot quickly circulated online, and earned the outrage of animal lovers across social media, who called the photo “evil” and “disgusting.”
The negative reaction to the photo has been so overwhelming that Legelela Safaris has disabled their Facebook page in response, according to CBS News. The Carters have also disabled the Facebook page, Instagram page and website for their taxidermy company.
The most devastating reaction comes fromYouTube user Shessosyd !, who, according toThe Mirror, is Darren Carter’s 19-year-old daughter Sydney Carter. Shessosyd ! posted a video on YouTube on Tuesday disowning her father for his actions.
“I will never understand people like that – who take pride in shooting a beautiful animal like a lion. I’ll never understand it,” Shessosyd !, says in the video, adding that she plans to never call her dad again because of his actions.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)also responded to the photo, calling for a worldwide ban on trophy hunting and for UPS to stop the importation of hunting trophies.
Trophy hunts are legal and practiced in 63 countries, reports CBS, and Americans make up 80% of trophy hunting tours’s clientele.
source: people.com
