Hunting celebrity stirs controversy after killing lion in South Africa

A hunting TV show host who used social media to share a photo of herself posing with a lion she killed in South Africa has sparked outrage among animal rights advocates who want to have her banned from returning to the country.

Melissa Bachman, host of Winchester Deadly Passion, killed the male lion during a recent guided hunt facilitated by the Maroi Conservancy in Limpopo province. (The hunt was perfectly legal, according to Maroi.)
The photo was shared more than 1,000 times on Bachman’s Facebook page, and in the past week it has circulated in the mainstream, generating harsh criticism.
According to ABC News, Cape Town resident Elan Burman began a Change.org petition requesting that the South African government prevent her from visiting.
The petition, which has gained nearly 15,000 signatures, reads: “She is an absolute contradiction to the culture of conservation this country prides itself on. As tax payers we demand she no longer be granted access to this country and its natural resources.”
Big-game hunting in South Africa is big business, and part of the revenue generated through hunting helps fund conservation projects.
Bachman, whose Facebook page includes photos of many other types of trophy animals, is no stranger to controversy. But the hunting celebrity enjoys lots of support.
The “Show Support for Melissa Bachman and resist anti-hunting abuse” Facebook page has nearly 8,000 followers.