Story By: Pol F, Sub-Editor: Joe Golder, Agency: Newsflash

A hunting guide has landed in legal hot water after posting this picture of himself holding up a dead puma after he allegedly killed it.

The hunting of the puma (Puma concolor) occurred in the small town of Sauce located in the Argentine province of Corrientes and though its exact subspecies is not said, it is reported to be in danger of extinction.

Though the exact day of the shooting is unknown the Prosecutor’s Office of Rural and Environmental Investigations started a case on the hunter, who has not been named, on Sunday 11th October.

The picture shows the hunter in camouflage holding up the large lifeless puma with both arms as he smiles and poses for the camera with the dead animal.

According to a report by the local newspaper ‘Misiones Online’ the Prosecutor’s Office of Rural and Environmental Investigations were set to present a criminal complaint to the Curuzu Cuatia Court located in the same province as Sauce yesterday (Tuesday).

Natural Resources Director Carlos Bacque said “the person is from Sauce” and though investigations were ongoing to determine all the circumstances surrounding the killing, he added they “will ratify a criminal complaint against the person that was identified”.

However, there have been no reports confirming it was carried out.

Pumas, which can also be called cougars, are allowed to be hunted in the province but require permission from the Natural Resources Direction as Sauce has a strict prohibition on hunting the big cat for sport across all of its jurisdictions.

Article 25 of the National Law Number 22.421 which states a hunter will be “reprimanded with prison between two months to two years and with a special inhibition of up to five years.

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