Almost a year after going viral for all the wrong reasons, an American woman who killed a giraffe in South Africa has said she has 'no regrets'.
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In an interview with CBS on Friday (7 June), hunter Tess Thompson Talley defended her controversial hobby, saying: "They [the animals] are put there for us, we harvest them, we eat them."
Talley was asked about the black giraffe (the conservation status of which is currently considered 'vulnerable') she had killed while in South Africa, to which she responded: "He was delicious!"
Talley also revealed she'd had a gun case made from the animal's skin, along with cushion covers for her home.
"This is a part of the black giraffe that I shot, something I could take around with me, and have on my hunts!" she said, showing off the case.
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"I also have decorative pillows made out of him, and everybody loves them.
As part of the segment, Talley took questions from a group of panellists, including journalist Gayle King - who famously interviewed R. Kelly recently, speaking to him about his abuse allegations.
As she was grilled, Talley remained unashamed by her pasttime, saying: "I am proud to be a hunter, and I'm proud to hunt, and I am proud of [killing] that giraffe."
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She also said her hunting trips were actually beneficial to the animal kingdom, adding: "We are preserving... we are managing herds, we're managing numbers of wildlife."
However, it appears many people do not share her outlook, with social media users condemning her 'disgusting' and 'shameful' actions.
One person wrote: "She really didn't say anything to make me feel any differently about her. To hell with her, her ugly giraffe pillows and her smile when talking about how delicious the creature was."
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Someone else commented: "This is absolutely stomach churning. I do hope they outlaw this practice."
A third added: "Vanity is not conservation. She clearly is more concerned with her own vanity over the protection of rare species."
After the photo of Talley standing next to the dead giraffe went viral last year, several celebrities also hit out against her.
Will and Grace actor Debra Messing said: "With joy in her black heart and a beaming smile she lies next to the dead carcass of a *rare* black giraffe in South Africa. Giraffes are the epitome of gentle giants. They glide across the plains, like liquid; awe inspiring creatures who spend their days eating leaves and caring for their young. How DARE she."
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News outlet Africa Digest also referred to her as a 'savage'.
Talley told CBS in today's interview that this social media backlash got so bad at the time that people were showing up at her work and calling her employer to try and get her fired.
Her 'amazing boss', however, stood by her.
When King asked if Talley was still hunting, she said with a smile: "Absolutely."
Extinct: A race against time to save our endangered species. Read more from our campaign here.
Topics: Viral, News, US News, Animals