Olivia Opre, a hunter who has killed across six continent, has insisted she is actually helping animals and species to survive by killing them.
The debate began on This Morning after hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby showed an image of Brittany Longoria, who was holding up a huge leopard she shot dead in Namibia.
Olivia said she had tried herself to shoot an "incredibly elusive" leopard, however she has hunted on six continents, in eight different countries, having killed 100 species altogether.
But she believes she is actually helping animals by allowing for them to be included in censuses, stopping poachers from selling them for profit and "creating jobs."
Olivia said: "I think that’s got a lot to do with it, ultimately we’re giving back to hunting these species.
"There’s a lot of places… photographers are not going to go to Liberia to take a photo… we’re creating jobs, we’re helping to drill wells and involved in the anti-poaching effort.
"This human animal conflict is very real… I don’t have to deal with a 100 pound lion in my backyard.
"What you have to understand is when you’re looking there are biologists who have been paid for by trophy dollars to go in and take censuses.
"What hunters are doing is legal, when you’ve having death threats for doing something legal is incredibly frustrating."
She also said there are natives who struggle to deal with animals roaming near their homes, and she and other trophy hunters are helping to stop that, while the issues are created by the public "anthropomorphising animals such as Dumbo or Simba, as well as the images hunters take which may seem insensitive.
Wildlife conservationist Giles Clark, who joined the presenters in the studio, vehemently disagreed with her claims, calling her hunting "abhorrent" as she talked about the rush hunters get when they kill an animal.
Olivia added: "I think what it is, it’s bringing me to a place where I get to be a part of these wild places and amongst the people of these areas. It’s adventure, it’s the pursuit, it’s something that pushes you to do something outside your comfort.
"It takes you out of your comfort zone and to me, hunting is being in the wild."
Fans were disgusted by her words, saying they could not believe her callous words about killing animals.
One said: "Hunters give back? You’re KILLING an endangered animal #ThisMorning"
Another said: "Oh no, is it difficult for hunters??? Cry me a river. You’re murdering an animal in an uneven fight to make yourself feel good. You’re pathetic. #ThisMorning"
A third added: "Theres a huge difference between hunting for trophies and protecting your livestock. #ThisMorning"
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV.
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