An American woman who killed a giraffe states that it was part of the conservation effort

WASHINGTON (AP) – A Kentucky woman vilified on social networks for killing a giraffe during a hunt in Africa in 2017 claimed to have received thousands of

A photo Tess Talley posing with a large giraffe became viral this week after the Twitter account of a site called Africa Digest posted two photos and called it a "wild American white."

Media reports that Talley is from Johnson County in eastern Kentucky. She issued a statement this week saying that the giraffe was not uncommon and that she was involved in what she called "conservation through game management."

She says in the statement "some of the most vile things were directed against me and many others"

Talley was criticized on social media by celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Debra Messing, the actress of "Will and Grace ", who described her as" loathsome, vile, amoral, ruthless and selfish murderer "

. The photos released by Talley last year show her standing and smiling next to a dead giraffe with the caption: "Prayers for my unique dream hunt have come true today!"

Trophy hunting is a legal practice in many African countries.

She states in her statement that the giraffe was over 18 years old and had killed three other young giraffes who were of childbearing age

"I understand that hunting is not for everyone", she said in the statement. "If it was wa s any other belief that would be different, the threats and insults would be deemed hideous, but for whatever reason, it's okay to act that way because that's the way it is." hunting. "