Texas huntress stirs controversy with photos of African kills

SAN ANTONIO -- A Texas Tech University cheerleader is the focus of online anger after she posted pictures of her recent hunting trip to Africa on her Facebook fan page.

Kendall Jones of Cleburne, Texas, posted pictures of her trip to Zimbabwe, including pictures of her with leopards, lions, and elephants that were killed on her trip. She also included a picture of a white rhino that she tranquilized. Commenters on her pictures have shown their displeasure with Jones' trips, including issuing her death threats. Jones addressed those voicing their displeasure on her picture with the white rhino.

"While all of the ANTI Hunters were hiding behind a computer writing repulsive comments and issuing death threats to me, well I was out doing a White Rhino Green Hunt," she posted on Facebook. "I darted a white rhino and the Vet drew blood samples... The Rhino woke up great and will now be a part of a DNA databank fighting against anti-poaching. Again doing my part in conservation to make a difference."

Jones said on her Facebook page that she has been interested in hunting since she was nine, and that the first animal she shot in Africa was a white rhino. She also said that she is interested in the African culture, and does more than hunt big game.

"I became fascinated with the culture over there and visited one of the elementary schools to deliver candy, coloring books and soccer balls to the under privileged children," she said on her page. "This was an eye opening experience for me to see how other children my age lived in a third world country."

Jones' page has drawn the attention of thousands online. Her page has over 19,000 "likes," and there are two petitions asking for action to be taken against Jones.

One petition with more than 47,000 signatures on the site avaaz.org is asking Facebook to remove Jones' page. It asks Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove Jones' page that "promotes animal cruelty."

Another petition on change.org addressed to "Ban and deny access for hunter Kendall Jones to African States" currently has more than 4,300 signatures.

Jones does not seem to plan on ending her hunting career anytime soon, as her Facebook page says that she signed a TV contract in January.

"I signed a development contract with award-winning Executive Producer Brian "Pigman" Quaca for a new series targeted to debut for 8 episodes during the first quarter of 2015 on the Sportsman Channel," Jones posted on her page.

jcook@mysa.com

Twitter: @JosephCook89