A 12-year-old hunter who caused an international furore after posing with a dead giraffe on social media has vowed that she will never give up the hobby as she "cherishes and enjoys" it.

Aryanna Gourdin, a serial trophy hunter, was the subject of a huge online backlash after she began posting photos of herself with the dead animals on Facebook.

One photograph shows her beaming next to a lifeless impala, a pink bow and arrow resting on its flank.

In another she raises her rifle in the air as she stands with one foot on the corpse of a huge giraffe.

A third shows her holding up the head of the same giraffe, which even when lying down is taller than she is.