In a series of chilling images that have sparked outrage among animal lovers, 32-year-old South African mother Anna-Marie van der Westhuizen is seen grinning beside the lifeless bodies of endangered African animals. The mother-of-one, who runs African Pride Hunting alongside her husband Chris, has made a career out of slaughtering majestic creatures like elephants, hippos, lions, and cheetahs, proudly showcasing her kills on social media.
In one particularly harrowing photograph, Van der Westhuizen beams with unsettling pride next to the corpse of a massive hippopotamus, its life snuffed out for sport. Another image captures her posing triumphantly over the body of a fallen elephant, a creature revered for its intelligence and grace. Her grim portfolio also includes the carcasses of wildebeests, crocodiles, gazelles, and giraffes—each a testament to her relentless pursuit of what she calls “adrenalin-fuelled adventures.”
10 Anna-Marie van der Westhuizen poses alongside an elephant killed on a hunt. The image was posted to FacebookCredit: SWNS
10 Other animals she has posted sickening images of include slaughtered hipposCredit: SWNS
10 The mum-of-one runs a hunting company with husband Chris in South Africa
African Pride Hunting, the couple’s company, markets itself as a gateway to “thrilling” hunts across Southern Africa, promising clients the chance to track elephants on foot, chase lions, or stalk leopards and crocodiles for “affordable prices” and “tailor-made packages.” Their website boasts of delivering “the best possible trophy,” turning the slaughter of endangered wildlife into a grotesque commodity.
Despite the visceral backlash from animal rights advocates, Van der Westhuizen has garnered disturbingly enthusiastic support from fellow hunting enthusiasts. One admirer gushed, “Bloody unreal!!! Outstanding trophies, congrats!” Another praised a photo of her beside a slain elephant, calling it a “magnificent” shot, with Van der Westhuizen “perfectly framed by her splendid trophy.” These comments reveal a chilling disconnect from the loss of life they celebrate.
When confronted by critics questioning the morality of her blood-soaked hobby, Van der Westhuizen remains unapologetic, claiming her actions benefit conservation. “Hunting is more about appreciating nature, it’s more than just killing,” she wrote in one defiant post. “We have to look after them, and hunting is a tool to maintain balance.” In another brazen response to her detractors, she lashed out: “Dear Animal activist, Vegan, Vegetarian, Anti-hunter… WHO ARE YOU, TO JUDGE? Animal populations benefit from legal trophy hunting. Emotions don’t save species, management does!”
10 Wildebeest are among a number of animals slaughtered on the hunts, including giraffes, lions and crocodilesCredit: SWNS
10 The couples often receive flowing praise from fans for their macabre posts which often display their day’s bountyCredit: SWNS
10 But animal campaigners have slammed the couple for killing endangered species
Her defense has drawn sharp condemnation from animal welfare organizations. Mimi Bekhechi, director of PETA UK, called Van der Westhuizen’s actions a “lust for blood” with “grave consequences.” She added, “Women—and particularly mothers, like her—should be sensitive to the fact that by killing healthy ‘trophy animals’ to mount on their walls, hunters are also potentially making orphans of juvenile animals who are left to fend for themselves.”
10 The WWF rates African Elephants as being vulnerable due to the threat of huntingCredit: SWNS
10 But the couple bizarrely believe they are helping to stop the animals’ flight
The images come at a time when African wildlife faces unprecedented threats. The World Wildlife Foundation classifies both elephants and hippos as vulnerable, with only an estimated 470,000 elephants remaining on the continent. Conservationists warn that trophy hunting exacerbates the decline of these iconic species, pushing them closer to extinction.
Van der Westhuizen has yet to respond to requests for comment, but her brazen displays and unyielding defense of her actions continue to fuel a firestorm of controversy. As the world grapples with the urgent need to protect endangered species, her photos stand as a stark reminder of the cost of treating wildlife as trophies.