R.I.P Exmoor Emperor.
 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...08_634x516.jpg

On the news yesterday morning, it was confirmed that what may be perhaps the largest native and wild animal in the UK - nicknamed 'The Exmoor Emperor' by wildlife photographer Richard Austin and standing at just over 9 feet tall from the floor to the tip of the antlers - had been shot for the purpose of trophy hunting.

Whilst this may not seem like such a big deal to most people - pehaps least of all those in the US, where deer are common - it just touched me as a saddening story as a great loss of one of the most magnificent animals in our country, a species that is growing in numbers, yet still under threat from loss of natural habitat and such trophy hunting activities.

News story here.

Yes, deer are indeed common here in the U.S...

But we're talking about a 9-foot-tall one, here! Deer like that should live 'till natural death. :( This is very sad.

The link just leads to the picture, though.

Apologies, link fixed now.

And as you might have guessed, I completely agree.

In defence, the hunters claimed that deer of that age are prone to disease and parasites and they did it in order to 'keep the deer population safe'. In fact, the Emperor was actually only just coming to the end of his mating lifetime - this was predicted to be the last of his possible sucessful rutting seasons - and was in fine health, a great example of an extraordinarily healthy red deer, especially at his mid-age. Besides, just because something is slightly more at risk of health issues or can no longer mate sucessfully, that's no excuse for aimlessly killing it. Especially not for a grand - and still relatively endangered - animal like this. Plus, these deer are an example of one of the few remaining ancient native species left here, all the rest have gone through over-hunting or loss of habitat.

Very sad indeed.

:'(
ayskxawng tawtute... I really hate people who hunt just to kill things :(

I heard about this yesterday, such a sad story. Trophy hunting is vile, I hope somebody kills the 'hunter' that did this and takes his head! Killing such a magnificent beast for a trophy is a crime against nature.

Very sad, indeed! I understand hunting when it is not for sport, but only for sustenance and survival, such as the Aboriginal people's still do here, but 'trophy' hunting I have never understood! Let alone as you note, killing one that magnificent. :(

One of the saddest stories I heard here in the last couple of years, was about that there is a very small rare population of 'wild horses' up in the Northern bush and wilds, and someone just went in and killed some, for no particular reason. I just wept for hours at the tragedy and cruelness. :'(

Now the US BLM is doing the same thing out in Nevada (but that's another story for another time).:'(

Though back on topic. That really is a beautiful buck, it's a shame that it had to die, and for something as vain as a "trophy." Then the hunter claims he was doing it to protect the deer gene pool? Bull****.:angry:The thing is nine feet tall, and is still healthy as a horse (er...deer:P) for it's age. From a darwinian standpoint, that thing's a genetic asset to the deer population.

O... kay...

mkay.

47 people died in the Middle East last month.


Just throwing that out there...
























If anybody cares. : /

Just another example of humanity at its finest. Trophy hunting is pathetic, to be kind.

That sucks, it really really does. In Texas deer are an invasive species. They have to be hunted, but I still hate it.

then... make a thread about it

killed for fun... just stupid. people = shiit

I agree... People who do that say they are animals, I say those people are worse than that.

Ok, now we have two terrorists...