Animal lovers mourn death of giant stag in Britain

A giant stag, believed to have been the biggest wild land animal in Britain, has been shot dead.

Two stags fight in a wildlife park in Aurach, near Kitzbuehel, in the Austrian province of Tyrol, on October 1, 2010. Photo: AP.

Animal lovers in Britain are mourning the death of Emperor, a giant stag reported to have been largest wild animal in the country.

The British media are reporting on Tuesday that a trophy hunter shot the male red deer for its antlers just days after his photograph appeared in newspapers.

Emperor was 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall to the tips of his antlers and is believed to have weighed some 300 pounds (136 kilograms).

Wildlife photographer Richard Austin told the Times newspaper he was angry the magnificent beast had been shot. Mr. Austin said he was certain the animal was deliberately targeted even though he had not revealed its precise location.