Trophy Hunter Poses With Dead Giraffe's Heart In Photos, Reacts To Criticism

A female trophy hunter in South Africa was slammed on social media after she posted a photo of herself holding the heart of a giraffe she shot on Valentine's Day.

Merelize Van Der Merwe took to Facebook to share her story. The 32-year-old, who also spoke to local media, said how her “wonderful” husband spent around $2,600 to make her five-year dream come true at a game park last Sunday.

“Ever wondered how big a giraffe’s heart is?” she wrote alongside a picture of it. “I’m absolutely over the moon with my BIG Valentine present!!!”

The woman also posted videos of her hunting the 17-year-old animal.

“I was literally like a little child for two weeks and counted down the days,” she told the Mirror UK about her excitement. The hunter claimed the giraffe was “so old that he was way over his time and the owner didn’t know if he will last another 3 months!!!”

Merwe’s Facebook page, which had over 80,000 followers, reacted to the photos, with many criticizing her for her action.

“Killing a helpless animal is not a sport. It’s lunacy,” one person commeted. “She wasn’t hunting and killing this beautiful animal because it threatened her livestock, or her own life, nor was she killing it feed her family ... it is sad,” another person wrote.

On Sunday, Merwe hit back at those who criticised her for her post.

"I compete with no one! If what I do threatens you that's your problem!!!! You can talk all day about me, publish me in every newspaper if that pleases you, but can you put your money where your mouth is, like I do? I will put this offer on the table - want to come kill like you said I'll come and pick you up at the airport and give you the opportunity, but if you fail to do so just make sure you leave your family a big life insurance!!! Because there will not be a return ticket. And if you can't afford let me know!!!"

"I ain't scared of sh** especially animal rights activists who still lives with mommy because they get triggered by everything so they go to the supermarket and buy their meat because no animal gets hurt there!!! I've been hearing the same old mob stories for years and yet I'm still here and still hunting..." she wrote.