R.I.P Exmoor Emperor.

[Fkeu'itan]

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.