.

Lion Huntress Melissa Bachman Under Fire Over Gruesome Photo : Report

Melissa Bachman petition soars to 245,000 signatures as Ricky Gervais joins barrage of criticism

The American TV star sparked outrage after posting a snap showing her smiling as she posed with a gun next to the carcass of a male lion on Facebook and other social media.

With the picture, she wrote: "An incredible day hunting in South Africa! Stalked inside 60-yards on this beautiful male lion... What a hunt!"


The "trophy" image prompted a huge backlash which led to Bachman's Twitter account being suspended amid the barrage of criticism.

She has since reactivated the page but is yet to tweet or comment publicly on the scandal.

A petition set up in the wake of the outrage has now been signed by more than 245,000 people.

In a letter addressed to Mkuseli Apleni, director general of South Africa's Department of Home Affairs, Bomo Edna Molewa at the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs, and Lakela Kaunda from the private office of the president, the petition's signatories say: "Melissa Bachman has made a career out of hunting wildlife, for pure sport.

"Her antics are captured extensively on her personal website.

"She is an absolute contradiction to the culture and conservation this country prides itself on. Her latest Facebook post features her with a lion she has just executed and murdered in our country.

"As tax payers we demand she no longer be granted access to this country and its natural resources."
source: 1
.