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Artist Mark Balma tells Sky News why he is painting a huge mural of Cecil outside Walter Palmer’s River Bluff dental practice Guardian

Cecil the lion's killer joins long list of big game hunters skewered on social media

This article is more than 8 years old

From the King of Spain to America’s most famous hockey mom, proud displays of animal trophies haven’t always been met with congratulations online

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, poor Cecil the lion no longer sleeps tonight. After news broke that the beloved big cat was killed by a dentist from Minnesota, the hunter, Walter Palmer, quickly became “the most hated man in America who never advertised Jell-O pudding on television”, according to Jimmy Kimmel.

Palmer is reportedly receiving death threats and a deluge of horrible Yelp reviews, and it probably goes without saying that his patients are likely hunting themselves – for a new dentist. But Palmer is by no means the first big game trophy hunter to get skewered online for their exploits.

The Trump Kids

Of course Donald Trump’s sons are doing rich people things like hunting big game to prove their wealth and masculinity. Wonder where they got that from? Maybe dad needed material for a new toupee?

Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump with a leopard they killed on a trip to Zimbabwe. Photograph: Hunting Legends

Karl Malone

Former basketball star Karl Malone with a bear he killed with a bow. Photograph: karlmalonejr63/Instagram

The former NBA star for the Utah Jazz certainly seemed jazzed about the bear he was able to take down with nothing but a crossbow, some sensible camo gear and one seriously warm-looking hat.

Rebecca Francis

What must've happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling? pic.twitter.com/DyYw1T5ck2

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 13, 2015

Earlier this year, Ricky Gervais tweeted this photo of a camo-clad woman lying next to a dead giraffe, sparking huge backlash. The woman turned out to be Rebecca Francis, winner of the 2010 reality show Extreme Huntress, whose website features a gallery of the animals she’s hunted – from hippopotami in Mozambique to moose in Alaska.

King Juan Carlos of Spain

King Juan Carlos of Spain poses in front of a dead elephant on a hunting trip. Photograph: Target Press/Barcroft Media

The King of Spain enraged not only animal rights activists, but also his entire recession-ravaged country when he was photographed in front of a dead elephant in Botswana. The king also suffered a fall on the hunt – giving his detractors a perfectly timed excuse to yell “karma”.

Melisa Bachman

Hunter and TV host Melissa Bachman with a lion she shot.
Hunter and TV host Melissa Bachman with a lion she shot. Photograph: Internet

A quick Google search for “Melissa Bachman” suggests that you might be looking for the controversial former congresswoman Michele Bachmann. This Bachman – like her congressional counterpart – is also from Minnesota. But if Ms Bachman – one N – didn’t have enough problems with her name on the internet, the host of the hunting show Winchester Deadly Passion definitely didn’t help herself by posing with a dead lion.

Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath with a bison he shot on a hunting trip to Zimbabwe. Photograph: Facebook

Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath sparked outrage down under after posting pictures of his big game hunt in 2008.

Kendall Jones

Kendall Jones poses with a lion she shot in Africa. Photograph: Facebook

If Cecil the lion’s death sounds familiar, you might be remembering a similar story that broke this time last summer, when animal rights activists were enraged by then 19-year-old Kendall Jones. The Texas cheerleader posted this picture of herself with a lion she killed, and needless to say, many were not cheering her “adventures in hunting”.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin poses with one of her daughters and a caribou she shot in Alaska. Photograph: AP

The former governor, vice-presidential candidate, hockey mom and TV personality has made no effort to hide the fact that she’s a happy hunter.

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg with a dead triceratops – er, prop – on the set of Jurassic Park. Photograph: Internet

Behold the most dangerous big game hunter of them all: the ruthless, blood-thirsty, fear-inducing Steven Spielberg. Look at the man! Fell a goddamn triceratops with nothing but his bare hands!

Or at least that’s what some commenters thought when Facebook user/genius troll Jay Branscomb posted this picture from the set of Jurassic Park on his timeline with the caption:

“Disgraceful photo of recreational hunter happily posing next to a Triceratops he just slaughtered. Please share so the world can name and shame this despicable man.”

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