Brit trophy hunter poses over corpses of ‘Big Five’ endangered animals including majestic lions killed for sport
GRUESOME pics show a Brit trophy hunter posing over the corpses of majestic beasts including endangered lions, leopards and elephants killed for sport.
Carl Knight, 45, is thought to be the only known British hunter boasting of killing Africa's "Big Five" at-risk species.
As well as leopards and elephants, Knight has told of gunning down endangered rhinos and buffaloes - whose population is in decline.
The African lion, African leopard and African bush elephant are all classified as vulnerable - while the black rhinoceros is critically endangered.
And campaigners say he is the only British-born huntsman to have completed the "Dangerous Seven" list of animals - which includes crocodiles and hippos.
Surrey-born Knight was accused last night of helping to drive "endangered species to the brink", the reported.
'EXTINCTION CRISIS'
The Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting said that in the face of an “extinction crisis” killing animals for fun was “one of the last social evils”.
The outrage comes ahead parliamentary event on Wednesday calling for new laws against the industry.
Dad-of-two Knight insists that he and his rich clients are helping save at-risk species by hunting animals for fun.
He said on the website for his Take Aim Safaris firm that he has taken part in more than 400 hunts in Africa.
In one harrowing photo, Johannesburg-based Knight is seen posing with the body of a dead lion.
Another shows Knight with two men crouching behind a leopard's corpse - while a third sees him clutching his gun next to a downed bull elephant.
I have hunted the Big Five and Dangerous Seven as a client, most of the species in these groups a few times over, not to mention guiding them many more times over
Carl Knight
He reportedly charges up to £30,000 to help wealthy clients track down beasts in trips across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Guests stay in five-star luxury lodges and can even hunt rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and monkeys.
And Knight boasts: “I have hunted the Big Five and Dangerous Seven as a client, most of the species in these groups a few times over, not to mention guiding them many more times over.”
His online brochure adds that guests can "relax with a glass of wine" while their kills are "professionally prepared for taxidermy".
'MAKING A KILLING'
Eduardo Goncalves, of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, last night slammed the blood-soaked business.
He told the Mirror: “Knight not only kills rare wildlife for fun, he makes thousands of pounds from these sick expeditions. He is literally making a killing.
"People in the UK will be heartbroken to learn he organises hunts of cheetahs, and outraged he makes a living helping kill endangered rhinos.
“They will be shocked he hosts shooting parties of giraffes and zebras, and guides hunters to shoot monkeys, ostriches and porcupines.
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"How is shooting a monkey or an ostrich sport?”
The CBTH wants a ban on trophy imports into Britain.
Knight was contacted by The Sun Online for comment last night.
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