Scotland might change their laws around game hunting after an American hunter attracted fierce criticism for posting photos of herself posing with a dead wild goat and other animals killed on Islay in the Inner Hebrides.
“Beautiful wild goat here on the Island of Islay in Scotland,” Larysa Switlyk, a Florida-born hunter who hosts a show on Canada’s Wild TV, wrote on Instagram as the caption to a photo of her posing with its corpse.
The caption also says, “Such a fun hunt!! They live on the edge of the cliffs of the island and know how to hide well. We hunted hard for a big one for 2 days and finally got on this group. Made a perfect 200 yard shot.”
The hunter also posted photos of another goat, a ram and a red stag killed during the hunting trip in Scotland. These photos sparked outrage online, along with calls to limit trophy hunting in the Hebrides.
? that curl ~ having the time of our lives hunting Scotland ??????? ? https://t.co/0jDLamADi6 pic.twitter.com/hLSkWPSZoS
— Larysa Switlyk (@LSwitlyk) October 16, 2018
Proud of Jason and his 2nd monstrous Red Stag here in Scotland …. talk about Gold Medal Status. Was fun to be behind the Camera and capturing it all on film ! Amazing hunting here in the highlands ~ for more information email me Larysa@detailcompany.c… https://t.co/NNFL7cng0k pic.twitter.com/GmEMLyXBGY
— Larysa Switlyk (@LSwitlyk) October 15, 2018
Judy Murray, mother of the Scottish tennis player Andy Murray, called the hunt “disgraceful” and urged the government to stop allowing hunts like this to happen.
“A unique hunt?”
Disgraceful. It’s a goat. And it’s in Scotland. On a beautiful island. Stop this pls @scotgov. ? https://t.co/7UE7QYSW94— judy murray (@JudyMurray) October 24, 2018
Michael Russel, a member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute, which includes the island Switlyk was hunting on, said that he would raise the hunt with the government as “a matter of urgency.”
As the local member of @ScotParl I am raising this as a matter of urgency with @strathearnrose – if this is actually happening on #Islay , and laid on by some sort of tour company I would want to see it stopped immediately https://t.co/wnr0yJ6n4A
— Michael Russell (@Feorlean) October 24, 2018
And Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government will “review the current situation and consider what changes to the law are required.”
Totally understandable why the images from Islay of dead animals being held up as trophies is so upsetting and offensive to people. @scotgov will review the current situation and consider whether changes to the law are required. https://t.co/SIQxcEYBzR
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 24, 2018
For her part, Switlyk might not know what’s happening in Scotland right now, as she posted on Instagram that she was “headed out on a bush plane for my next hunting adventure and will be out of service for 2 weeks,” and that hopefully that will “give enough time for all the ignorant people out there sending me death threats to get educated on hunting and conservation.”
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