Military dog handler is top trophy hunter who has slaughtered hundreds of animals

A Ministry of Defence worker has been revealed as one of Britain’s top trophy hunters who has slaughtered hundreds of animals.

Adrian Cawte, from Somerset, keeps his ‘trophies’ as sick souvenirs and has bragged about eating some of them after skinning and slaughtering them.

Some of the beasts he has killed for fun include zebra, baboons, jackal, wildebeest, antelope, warthog, deer and impala, Daily Star reports.

Cawte also brags about his kills on several hunters’ forums, once telling how slaying a majestic zebra was “a very nice way to christen my new rifle”.

In another stomach-turning post, he told how he enjoys tucking into zebra meatballs after butchering the creatures and how he loves the smell of the dead animal.

“I could finally lay my hands on her and admire the fantastic markings, feel the short bristled hair on her body, examine her hooves, run my fingers over the scars on her hide and inhale that wonderful horsey smell”.

In several other detailed posts, he described his joy in tracking their blood splatters.

After shooting a duiker antelope he said: “There was stomach contents on the ground and some small splatters of blood.

“There was also a pleasing amount of blood which was being dropped regularly and relatively easy to follow.

Cawte bragged: “I took the shot and heard the bullet strike, I saw the zebra fall and roll downhill kicking.

“We kept on and found more intestines caught on the thorns and more blood.”

Cawte also bragged about shooting a springbok through the leg.

When asked what makes him want to hunt, on the forum AfricaHunting.com, he responded, “because I enjoy it.”

Cawte has recently been exposed by Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting ( Image: Africa Hunting)

Cawte is thought to have worked for the MoD for several years.

He has since been exposed by Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.

Eduardo said: “Cawte describes in stomach-churning detail the appalling injuries and suffering he inflicts on animals.

“He seems to revel in literally blasting animals to pieces. He poses for pics next to his victims then goes for a beer. He tucks into meals of meatballs made from zebras.

“He is a disgrace to all servicemen and women who bravely wear the uniform.”

Next week the Government will discuss a bill to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals.

The proposed law comes two years after the Government pledged to introduce the ban.

Eduardo said: “We need to ban trophy hunting now. It’s the sport of sick, twisted sadists.

“The government says it’s going to stop hunters bringing home their gruesome souvenirs, but won’t say when. How long are we going to let this madness go on?”

Cawte has been contacted for comment.

This article by Isobel DickinsonTanveer Mann was first published by The Mirror on 9 January 2022. Lead Image: Adrian Cawte, from Somerset, keeps his ‘trophies’ as sick souvenirs (Image: Africa Hunting).

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