A SELF-described “world-renowned” celebrity hunter has been condemned after posting pictures of her successful goat hunt on the island of Islay.
Larysa Switlyk, who organises hunt tours and presents a TV show where she travels the world killing animals, posted a picture on Instagram of her holding up a black faced ram she had shot while on an organised excursion.
“Beautiful wild goat here on the Island of Islay in Scotland,” she tweeted,
Beautiful wild goat here on the Island of Islay in Scotland. 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 s… https://t.co/AnIVSloS9J pic.twitter.com/x2FzvTF7No
— Larysa Switlyk (@LSwitlyk) October 22, 2018
Congrats on Jason on his gold medal 🥇 goat here in Scotland on Islay. A unique hunt, email larysa@detailcompany.com for more information ! https://t.co/QMgPTxedR4 pic.twitter.com/rBqvY1Muh7
— Larysa Switlyk (@LSwitlyk) October 23, 2018
The picture has caused fury.
Local MSP Mike Russell said he would seek a meeting with Roseanna Cunningham, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment.
“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”
Judy Murray also called for action: “Disgraceful. It’s a goat. And it’s in Scotland. On a beautiful island. Stop this pls @scotgov. 🤬”
The Islay B&B account, Orsay House, tweeted: “I don't think anyone of any repute on #islay was aware of this, we certainly don't condone it!”
Mogwai frontman Stuart Braithwaite tweeted: “What an evil piece of sh*t”
BBC presenter Nicky Campbell said: “Please don’t take this the wrong way but you are a twisted sicko”
On her social media, the hunter says there is sport in chasing after the animals: “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 and dropped him with the @gunwerks and @nightforce_optics ! ( Good thing too because he could have ran off the cliff into the water).”
Switlyk says her mission is to “enlighten and educate the general population about why people hunt and fish, the importance of conservation, cultural experiences, and the rules and regulations behind it all”.
Previous posts on her instagram from her trip to Scotland show Switlyk and partner Jason Soulliere with stags, and goats and sheep.
Sarah Moyes, OneKind Campaigner, told The National: "It’s utterly shocking to see these images of Larysa Switlyk and other hunters posing for photos with the wild animals they killed on a recent trip to Scotland.
"Yet again, instead of celebrating Scotland’s magnificent wildlife, we are seeing these beautiful animals exploited in the name of sport.
"This is not the kind of tourism we should be encouraging in Scotland, let alone allowing to happen in the 21st century.”
Before landing here, the two hunters were in Greenland where they killed Caribou, Musk Ox, and Arctic Hares.
Switlyk has found herself in the middle of social media storm before for her animal shoots. Two years ago she and her TV show’s co-host, Michaela Fialova, were criticised for killing and eating a baby deer.
Hunting is a big money maker for Scotland, with a recent report suggesting a total of 910,000 visitor nights were spent in Scotland in 2013 for country sports, with a total expenditure of £155m.
Switlyk, and the Islay tour company responsible for the excuriosn have been approached for comment.
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