Lion Hunt Photo Touches Off Heated Conservation Debate on Twitter.

Lion Hunt Photo Touches Off Heated Conservation Debate on Twitter.

For Melissa Bachman, a tweet may be worth a thousand insults.

The Minnesota-based big game hunter and Outdoor Channel TV personality has stirred up controversy by posting a picture to Twitter of herself and a dead lion. Bachman tweeted, "An incredible day hunting in South Africa! Stalked inside 60-yards on this beautiful male lion...what a hunt!"

 She says on twitter "An incredible day hunting in South Africa! Stalked inside 60-yards on this beautiful male lion...what a hunt! "

Many outraged people have taken to social media to condemn the picture, often with harsh words for Bachman

The Heated Hunting Debate

Bachman's story touches on a controversy that has been brewing across Africa and beyond. Those who support limited hunting of big cats argue that money raised through fees and expeditions can be invaluable in conservation efforts. In the other camp, people argue that every lion is precious and should be protected, even if the species has not been officially declared endangered (there are thought to be 32,000 to 35,000 lions living in 27 African countries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has spent recent months debating whether to upgrade the animal's status).