Boris Johnson's girlfriend Carrie Symonds hits out at 'cruel and cowardly' British tourists who pay thousands to shoot elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons and monkeys on African trophy hunts

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Carrie Symonds has hit out at 'cruel and cowardly' British tourists who pay thousands to go on African trophy hunts and shoot animals including elephants and giraffes.

The 31-year-old, who is girlfriend to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, took to Twitter this evening to slam the hunters - who can choose to kill an animal from a list of 65 species including £1,666 extra to shoot a giraffe and £6,422 for a hippo.

Tourists embark on trips to countries including South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe with tour operator Derek Stocker, 62, and his hunting company ProStalk.

While on the trips UK visitors can have souvenir pictures taken with their kills, and are even allowed to take parts of the animals back home.  

ProStalk, based in Baltonsborough, Somerset, offers tours to Africa to shoot animals which start at £1,050 for five days. While on the trips UK visitors can have souvenir pictures taken with their kills (pictured, a tourist with a zebra he's killed)

Testimonials on ProStalk's website, including from Steve Bull (pictured with a kill), praise the company. Mr Bull says: 'I arranged with Derek to take me on trip of a lifetime to Africa to hunt and what a trip'

ProStalk's tours include the killing of animals including baboons, elephants and zebras on 'adventures of a lifetime' (pictured, tour operator Derek Stocker in an image from his Facebook profile) 

Carrie Symonds has slammed the tour operator, saying 'animals depends on us to do the right thing'. She also called the action of the tourists 'cruel and cowardly' (above and below)

Carrie Symonds (pictured), 31, who is girlfriend to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, took to Twitter this evening to slam the hunters

Ms Symonds slammed the activity, saying today: 'Can you imagine the hunters below fighting these majestic beasts without needing to hide behind a rock and without needing to use a massive gun? Of course not. That's why it's not only cruel beyond belief but as cowardly as it gets too.'

Earlier posting images of the hunters with their kills, Ms Symonds also tweeted: 'Animals don't have a voice. They depend on us to do the right thing. I'm pretty certain this isn't it.'

ProStalk's tours include the killing of animals including baboons, elephants and zebras on 'adventures of a lifetime', as reported by The Mirror. Wealthy customers brag about their exploits during the trips, which start at £1,050 for five days.

Testimonials on their website, including from Britons Emily Padfield, Steve Bull and Les Baker, praise the company - which is based in ­Baltonsborough, around six miles from Glastonbury, Somerset.

In his testimonial, Mr Bull says: 'I arranged with Derek to take me on trip of a lifetime to Africa to hunt and what a trip. 

'We hunted all the species that I had asked him to arrange. Trophies such as a 46inch sable 28inch water buck and lots more. 

'I would have to recommend Derek as we got a lot more out of our trip than we could ever have imagined.

Emily Padfield (pictured with a kill), one of the Brits to go on a tour with Derek Stocker, says in her testimonial: 'We both travelled to South Africa for a cull package and can honestly say that it far exceeded any expectations we both had'

Les Baker (pictured with a kill), another of the tourists on Mr Stocker's tours, said in his testimonial: 'How was the hunting? Well, you will not be disappointed. I wanted to shoot Springbuck, Impala and Wart Hog I got to shoot all three'

One of the hunters rests their weapon on the head of a wildebeest killed during one of ProStalk's tours

Another hunter poses with a rifle he used to kill a zebra while on one of ProStalk's tours in Africa

While Emily Padfield says in her testimonial: 'We both travelled to South Africa for a cull package and can honestly say that it far exceeded any expectations we both had.

'Truly the stuff dreams are made of (sorry for the corniness!). So much so that we hope to join Derek on this German boar trip and again next year in South Africa.' 

And Les Baker said: 'How was the hunting? Well, you will not be disappointed. I wanted to shoot Springbuck, Impala and Wart Hog I got to shoot all three.

'And I added Blesbuck, Kudu, Wildebeest, Steen Buck and Red Hartebeest as well. 

'It was a management package I had booked but I was not disappointed with the animals I shot. You do cover a lot of ground and the vehicle is essential but I shot from foot as well as the vehicle.' 

Ms Symonds is not the only one to slam the company for its tours - which it claims 'the uninformed public and animal rights activists are quick to condemn'.

Campaign to Ban Trophy ­Hunting's Eduardo Goncalve told The Mirror the safaris are 'a festival of cruelty'. 

He said: 'ProStalk boasts about the "thrill" of killing animals. It may be a "holiday of a lifetime" for a hunter, but it’s hell for the animal killed to satisfy their sick bloodlust.

'Trophy hunting isn’t an "adventure", it’s an abomination, and it needs to be abolished. The Government should implement an immediate moratorium on all hunting trophy hunting imports.'

Tourists embark on trips to countries including South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe with with tour operator Derek Stocker, 62, and his hunting company ProStalk (pictured, a tourist with one of his kills)

ProStalk claims it actually helps African countries, saying hunting 'has ensured that South Africa's wildlife conservation story has been a remarkable success' (pictured, a hunter with one of his kills)

A couple pose next to a wildebeest killed during one of ProStalk's tours in Africa

But ProStalk claims it actually helps African countries, saying hunting 'has ensured that South Africa's wildlife conservation story has been a remarkable success.'

On its website, it writes: 'Hunting is such a controversial issue and unfortunately the uninformed public and animal rights activists are quick to condemn and determined to destroy an industry they know very little about. 

'They are unaware of how much hunting contributes to conservation and chose to focus on the emotional side of things. 

'To try and shed some light on the hunting industry and its indispensable role in conserving our wildlife for future generations to enjoy.

We will be posting interesting articles and write-ups that will hopefully, at the very least, make people think twice about condemning an industry that has contributed tirelessly to countless successful and on-going conservation initiatives. 

'An industry that has ensured that South Africa's wildlife conservation story has been a remarkable success.'