Dominic Smithers
A hunter has killed a massive 80-year-old alligator that had been 'threatening local livestock'.
Doug Borries, from Mississippi, is a seasoned hunter and has nine world records in both hunting and fishing under his belt.
He was told about the enormous beast by a friend, who said it had been around since he was a kid.
Borries said he was asked by his pal to hunt it down and kill it because some of his calves had disappeared.
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Speaking to WWXV25 about the gator, Borries said: "This guy said he’d seen the gator since he was a child. It was time for the gator to go because some of the calves were disappearing.
"So, he was down deer hunting with me, and he asked me if I wanted to come and hunt the gator.
"I said, 'Absolutely'. To me it was a once in a lifetime opportunity."
The pair managed to track the hulking animal, which weighed a colossal 905lbs and measured 13ft 4ins, down to a private lake in Okeechobee County.
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Borries then shot it in the head from about 500 yards with his 7mm STW rifle and pulled it out of the water.
He later shared photos of the dead animal to his hunting page, Dynamic Outdoors TV, with snaps of him standing next to the enormous beast.
He told McClatchy News: "I had no idea the magnitude of how big his body was until we pulled him completely out of the lake.
"It had been suspected of eating some of the local livestock around the lake and was considered a threat."
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According to reports, the alligator's meat was later processed for food and the its head has been mounted on Borries' wall.
The photos have since sparked a fierce debate among fellow hunters and others.
Some have claimed that it was cruel of Borries to kill an innocent animal.
One user said: "So sad that a hunter killed an 80 year old animal so sick of these men killing beautiful animals he could've been brought to a rescue or zoo no man thinks immediately of killing Steve Irwin would've been devastated."
However, Borries has defended his decision to kill the gator, saying it was a danger to animals and humans by posting a video of a captive alligator - that was being used at birthday party - attacking a youngster.
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He said: "Just a little reminder of the power of this "LITTLE TINY" alligator at the children's birthday party... Can you image the power of this one at over 13 feet and almost 1000 pounds!"