American couple claim of World Record crocodile kill in Tanzania sparks outrage

Dar es Salaam.  American couple Josh and Sarah Bowmar, notorious for their controversial trophy hunting exploits, have ignited fresh outrage after claiming to have killed the world's biggest crocodile in Tanzania.

In a series of videos posted on Josh's Instagram account, the couple posed with a massive crocodile hanging from a tree, boasting it as a potential world record.

"You guys won't believe this, look at this giant beast 100 percent free ranging here in Tanzania," Josh proclaimed in one clip, bow and arrow in hand, dwarfing the colossal reptile.

He further gloated, "I just killed an absolute dinosaur with a bow and arrow, they don't get bigger than this."

Bowmar claims the crocodile, once properly weighed and measured, could break world records for the largest ever hunted.

He flooded his social media with images and videos showcasing himself and Sarah alongside the imposing creature. One particularly disturbing video depicts the deceased crocodile being dragged by a rope tied to a Land Cruiser before being hoisted onto a tree for their trophy photo op.

Meanwhile, an official from the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (Tawa), who spoke on condition of annonymity, admitted that they already had information about the video clips, saying that they were in the process of preparing an official statement .

"We have seen the video clip. We are investigating and we will give full information to the public only when everything is completed," he said, while expressing his frustration that some Tanzanians continued to distribute such a video causing further uproar.

While crocodile trophy hunting is legal in Tanzania, the ethical implications of the Bowmars' actions have triggered widespread condemnation.

Their past convictions for illegal hunting escapades in the United States further fuel the fire.

The Mirror, a British tabloid, dubbed the Bowmars a "sick couple" after detailing their fines earlier this year for over 40 illegal hunting expeditions in Nebraska. The court ordered them to pay a hefty sum exceeding Sh350 million (roughly £260,000) in fines, forfeitures, and restitution, alongside three years of probation and 40 hours of community service.

In 2016, the Bowmars gained international notoriety for slaying a giant black bear with a homemade spear, documenting the bear's agonizing death on camera.

This latest episode of braggadocious hunting in Tanzania has reignited calls for stricter regulations and ethical considerations within the trophy hunting industry.

Critics argue that boasting about killing and posing with endangered animals promotes a desensitization towards wildlife conservation and fuels a culture of reckless hunting.

Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding the sustainability of hunting practices and their potential impact on Tanzania's delicate ecosystem.

While the validity of the Bowmars' claims regarding the crocodile's size remains unverified, the incident undeniably casts a shadow on Tanzania's wildlife tourism sector and underscores the need for robust oversight and ethical wildlife management practices.