Callous trophy hunter boasts she shot dead 60-year-old crocodile to make purse

A trophy hunter hunter has boasted she shot dead a 60-year-old Nile crocodile to make a purse. Callous Larysa Switlyk posted pictures of herself posing with the dead animal saying: “Excuse me while I shop for a new purse”.

She used the snap in the hope of recruiting British women to join her on cruel hunts. Switlyk invited her 98,000 web followers to guess the reptile’s length, which she later revealed was 15ft.

One fan wrote: “Ok this is the best thing I’ve seen all day!! What a beauty! This is purse shopping at its finest.” But others have called her an “animal abuser” and a “despicable woman”.

Switlyk, 33, of Sarasota, Florida, said she shot the croc on a hunting trip in Zambia to save the lives of local villagers. She said: “Some of these problem crocodiles need to be killed to save other human lives.

“When you live in your own bubble and don’t have to deal with these type of animal/human conflicts on a daily basis it is harder for you to understand or comprehend why people hunt these animals.”

Switlyk says she began hunting in 2008 and has killed 116 different species from around the world, including in Africa where she has hunted the big five – the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and cape buffalo.

The US TV host, actress, and former bodybuilder has hunted the small Chinese water deer in England and stags in Scotland and wants to get more women into hunting. She has run female-only trips in Norfolk.

Animal rights group XPose Trophy Hunting said: “Killing an animal for fun and a purse, is morally indefensible, selfish and a hangover from colonialism.

“Did she even stop to think that the crocodile had lived for at least five decades, and played a vital role in controlling the young males? Now that area is probably much more dangerous for local communities.”

Switlyk was approached for a comment.

Notorious trophy hunter Larysa Switlyk poses next to the dead animal

This article was first published by The Mirror on 27 March 2021. Lead Image: Larysa Switlyk has caused a storm with her actions and comments online.

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