Hunters are forced to sell their supermarket franchise in France after photos of them shooting big game in Tanzania surfaced online

Hunters are forced to sell their supermarket franchise in France after photos of them shooting big game in Tanzania surfaced online



A French couple have been forced to sell their supermarket franchise after pictures of them hunting big game in Africa surfaced online, causing outrage.

Jacques Alboud and wife Martine, who owned a Super U franchise inL’Arbresle, near Lyons, were pictured in Tanzania years ago standing above the corpses of lions, leopards, buffalo and hippos they had shot.

Hunters are forced to sell their supermarket franchise in France after photos of them shooting big game in Tanzania surfaced online
Jacques (left) and Martine (right) Alboud are pictured alongside a Tanzanian hunter identified only as Clinton holding the body of a leopard they shot while on safari

The images appear to have been available on social networks since they were taken, but only began circulating in France this week, prompting people to call for a boycott of their store and send them death threats.

Even the Super U parent company spoke out against their activities, saying the behaviour was ‘in total opposition with the values defended by us.

‘We condemn them even if they are private activities,’ a spokesman added.

The Super U group has officially committed to work towards ‘a better respect for aquatic and terrestrial resources’ around the world.

On Tuesday, Super U announced that Jacques and Martine would leave the business with ‘immediate effect.’

‘Totally opposed to private hunting safari activities by associates, Super U announces that they will leave with immediate effect.

‘Measures to support their employees and take over their stores are put in place,’ a spokesman added.

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Jacques (left) and his wife took part in at least one safari, during which they shot animals including hippo at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars
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The images appear to have been available online since they were taken (this one of Jacques with a buffalo dates to 2014) but only began circulating in France this week, causing outcry
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Martine (pictured with a crocodile) and Jacques began receiving death threats after the pictures appeared, and were even condemned by the parent company of their own shop
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On Tuesday it was announced that the pair (front right, with the body of a hartebeest) will be leaving their business ‘with immediate effect’
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While Jacques and Martine (pictured right) have not commented since the images became public, a testimonial from Martine posted on a safari website says ‘we will be back!’

Contacted by French media, the couple have decline to comment.

However, a testimonial by Martine Aboud posted on the Safari organiser’s website says: ‘Thanks to Pierré van Tonder for his welcome and the perfect flawless organisation of our safari in the wild bush of the Selous.

‘Thanks to Clinton for his passion and his patience which allowed me to have such a successful, beautiful and fun safari, with top leopard and top crocodile!

‘We will be back with Pierré and Clinton van Tonder!’

Pierre van Tonder Big Game Safaris offers a variety of hunting packages starting at $17,000 per person and going up to $43,000.

Individual trophy prices include $3,000 for a buffalo, $1,200 for a hartebeest.

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Martine with the body of what appears to be a waterbuck during one of her hunting trips
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Jacques with an animal that appears to be a hyena, shot somewhere in Tanzania

A leopard kill will cost the shooter more than $7,000, while hippos retail for $3,400 and crocodiles for $3,800.

It is not known which hunting package the Albouds bought, but they are pictured posing with corpses of all the animals listed above.

Big game hunting in Africa is a highly controversial topic, with animal activists arguing that the sport is cruel and devastating to wildlife.

However, pro-hunting groups say their work – and particularly the money it draws in – provides a vital contribution to conserving threatened African species.

This article was first published by The Mail Online on 11 July 2019.


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