Warning: This article contains images which some readers may find distressing.
A hunter who has been criticised for posing with dead animals has branded any meat-eaters who called her out as 'uneducated hypocrites'.
Alexandra Tyutcheva, a hunting manager from Serpukhov in Russia, has been hunting since she was just 18-years old and says that as well as her job, it's also a hobby outside of work.
She is even writing her bachelor's degree thesis on trophy hunting in Russia and uses her social media platforms to share articles about sustainable hunting practice.
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As a child, Alexandra went fishing and camping with her dad and the pair now hunt together. Alexandra says she does not waste any part of the animals she kills, cutting away the meat, before drying out the skin and boiling up antlers and horns for taxidermy.
Alexandra's controversial hobby has attracted a lot of attention online, with some social media users branding her a 'cruel killer'. But she is unapologetic about her hobby and she wants to educate others and inspire them to take up hunting.
She said: "There are many people that don't understand and throw hate at you whilst having zero knowledge on the topic.
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"There can be comments that say, 'I wish you were lying there instead of the bear', or, 'you are a cruel killer'. Some have even threatened my non-existent children who will 'pay for that'.
"They don't realise how hunting influences our ecology. Proper hunting management can increase the number of elephants in Africa for example by thousands or bighorn sheep in the US.
"It's hypocritical to eat meat and then also criticise people who work hard to provide their own meat for themselves. On Instagram, I share links to articles that educate people about sustainable and conservation hunting.
"I'm currently writing my bachelor's degree thesis on trophy hunting in Russia."
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Alexandra was just 12 when she started fishing and camping with her dad, but she did not begin hunting until she was 18.
She explained: "My father and I are very close. We spend a lot of time together hunting with our guests. My mum and three sisters don't enjoy hunting but they support us. Hunting isn't for everyone.
"In Russia, it's not unusual to drive five hundred kilometres to go hunting - especially if you live near a city - so you don't go very often.
"The biggest hunt I've had was a Kamchatka brown bear. We don't weigh them but it must've been around two hundred and fifty kilograms.
"Hunting is a part of who I am now - it's my hobby, my job, and my philosophy. I love the strong connection I have to nature and the understanding of how things work in life.
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"You challenge yourself in harsh conditions - storms, rain, and snow - but that's just nature. You become more patient with experience."
Despite the backlash, Alexandra has no intentions of stopping, she added: "Hunters, do not hide your passion or apologise for being a hunter.
"As for other people, do not judge something you don't understand. Search for information and talk to people - try to learn. Curiosity and self-education is important."
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Featured Image Credit: Media Drum World
Topics: World News