[View the story "What was she thinking? TV host posts photo of lion kill on safari" on Storify ]What was she thinking? TV host posts photo of lion kill on safari Melissa Bachman, host of a TV show called "Winchester Deadly Passion," was recently filming in South Africa. Below is the photo of a lion that she claims to have hunted and killed while on safari. What ensued on social media was a snap debate on trophy hunting. Storified by CTVNews.ca · Sun, Nov 17 2013 16:27:30
The photo, which was posted to Bachman's Facebook and Twitter accounts, shows the host smiling while holding a gun, while the body of the African lion lies in front of her. Bachman's Twitter account has since been changed to "private."
Hunting at the Maroi Conservancy with an amazing PH, Julious Heyneke. If you're looking to book an African Safari contact Julious at Julious.heyneke@yahoo.com or checkout http://www.maroiconservancy.co.za/Melissa Bachman
Although the African lion is not considered an endangered species, it is rated as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Even though Bachman hunted the animal legally while in South Africa, it wasn't long before she became a target for online anger and vitriol.
Hope that Melissa Bachman gets mauled by lions the stupid cowTayler Norris
If it's true, it's people like Melissa Bachman that make the world a worse place. We can all pull a trigger you coward. Absolute scumbagLuke Patience
Melissa Bachman deserves to be shot herself...Sam Cooper
Melissa Bachman enjoys killing amazing wildlife just 'for the fun of it'. A sickening contradiction to our culture of conservation.Dr. Freek Vonk
Actor and comedian Ricky Gervais spoke out against Bachman on Twitter, by first re-tweeting her photo, and then slamming her actions over the next few days:
“@MelissaBachman: incredible day in South Africa! Stalked this male lion...what a hunt! http://t.co/Gerc9AfmGo” spot the typoRicky Gervais
Animals are not here for us to do as we please with. We are not their superiors, we are their equals. We are their family. Be kind to them.Ricky Gervais
A petition is asking the South African government to ban her from returning to the country. The petition's author said Bachman "is an absolute contradiction to the culture of conservation, this country prides itself on." As of Sunday evening, the petition had collected over 50,000 signatures.
The Government of the Republic of South Africa: Deny future entry to Melissa Bachman.Melissa Bachman has made a career out of hunting wildlife, for pure sport. Her antics are captured extensively on her personal website:...
But this isn't the first time Bachman has taken photos with her prey. Her show regularly features her hunting in different locations around the world. Twitter users were quick to point out that the host has taken similar pictures with other hunted animals, including bears, alligators and bucks.
Melissa Bachman murdered an Alaskan Brown Bear...#MelissaBachman - http://t.co/UxryXs6uNKHari
Worst of the lot:Melissa Bachman murdered an alligator and hung it by the neck from a tree...#MelissaBachman - http://t.co/qo88G3HvSwHari
Twitter users also posted photos of Bachman posing with other animals she'd hunted during her time in South Africa. The entire episode of her trip was posted to the show's YouTube channel:
Winchester's Deadly Passion: Africa Up Close & Personalmelissabachman
Melissa Bachman and the Zebra she murdered...#MelissaBachman - http://t.co/AG1hRoXBiZHari
Melissa Bachman's conquest no.2 in Africa before the lion...#MelissaBachman - http://t.co/kIezFshyOgHari
But not everyone was angered by Bachman's photos. There is a Facebook page called "Show support for Melissa Bachman and resist anti-hunting abuse" that has over 3,000 users giving her a thumbs-up.
Show support for Melissa Bachman and resist anti-hunting abuseShow support for Melissa Bachman and resist anti-hunting abuse. 2,568 likes · 53 talking about this. A page to show solidarity and suppor...
Many Twitter users also defended her latest actions:
The outrage at Melissa Bachman is ridiculous. Hunting (lion hunting too) has been happening for years. Why attack only her?Rachel Grayless
Those attacking Melissa Bachman for her hunting photos are attacking all of us who share her passion for hunting. Lets be vocal in support.Bill Harrison
@PursuitChannel Let's all support Melissa Bachman, she is under vile attack on twitter just for enjoying the hunting lifestyle we loveBob Wolf
Other Twitter users called for more organized action, by pushing to have the African lion added to the endangered species list:
Imagine if all the energy that went into getting Melissa Bachman's show off air went towards getting lions on the ESL the diff it would makeHillary