This Morning viewers were left unimpressed on Wednesday as the ITV show interviewed a proud trophy hunter about whether the sport should be banned.
Co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield spoke with Olivia Opre, who hunts animals as a hobby, as well as Giles Clark, who is a campaigner for banning it.
The discussion initially focused on the shocking photos which surfaced in recent weeks showing the biggest elephant in Botswana had been killed after the country reversed its decision to ban hunting.
Photographs of the kill were posted on social media, sparking anger as one of the country's most incredible creatures was gunned down.
The elephant, in its early-50s, had been shot for its near 8-foot-long tusks, with the beaming killers posing alongside the slain beast, an image that sparked fury online.
Phillip turned to Olivia, who appeared remotely, and asked her about her claims that trophy hunting could be justified on the basis that it generates funds for local communities, while Giles claims only three percent of profits for those communities.
Phillip said: “Your argument holds no weight whatsoever because the money doesn’t go back to the local communities.”
Olivia replied describing his comments as “hyperbole” and then alleged that $50,000 had gone towards the local community in Botswana as a result of hunting practices.
Former Botswana president Ian Khama imposed a trophy hunting ban across the country in 2014, but the ban was scrapped three years ago by successor Mokgweetsi Masisi to "manage human-wildlife conflicts".
Olivia said: “We can’t have this neocolonial tendency of trying to dictate how people must live in a place we don’t have to live.”
Phillip came back in strong terms saying: “But this is rich people going from across the world and shooting the animals, so that’s a different argument. There’s also the argument that it leads to unnecessary suffering.”
Olivia then replied: “Hunters take great pride in making sure the weapon and bullet selected is going to have the quickest death to their life.
“But what does nature’s death look like - he’s going to get stabbed by a bull, he may be poached or he may starve.”
Holly then interjected to say: “That’s more of a fair playing field in nature I think though,” before Phillip weighed in to say: “Where does it stop? Saying all of these animals are going to die anyway, so we may as well kill them.”
As the conversation unfolded, angry This Morning viewers took to Twitter to slam the show for giving the woman’s “vile” views a platform on ITV, with one writing they had had to “mute” the conversation.
One tweeted: “It’s one of those subjects that requires no false ‘balance’, you may as well invite on child murderers. Sadly it will convince some that it is ok in some circs.”
Another posted: “I am so upset at this vile lady trying to justify trophy hunting animals. Can’t believe she’s being given time on TV.”
“Eurghh I don't know how trophy hunting can be defended. The pictures make me sick,” another wrote.
A fellow viewer chimed: “This is disgusting. Trophy hunting should be banned and the fact that a hunter is being given a platform again is beyond words.”
Another fan begged: “Please get this vile human being off air!”
As another concluded: “I think This Morning is disgusting for letting this “person” on air to voice her bile on air.. shame on you. Whatever excuse she comes up with won’t justify why they are killing innocent animals in their own land!”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.
