Idaho wildlife official, Blake Fischer resigned from his position on the state’s Fish and Game Commission on Monday, after photos of him posing with his catch from a hunting trip in Africa sparked widespread uproar.
Ironically, Fischer’s role as a Fish and Game Commissioner centered on regulating the state’s fishing, trapping, and hunting laws. The Fish and Game Commission’s website even says that all potential commission members must be “well informed and interested in wildlife conservation and restoration.” While unpaid, the position holds a degree of prestige since potential commissioners must be appointed by the Governor and approved by the Idaho State Senate.
Some of the animals featured in the photos that Fischer initially e-mailed to his co-workers, included a leopard and a giraffe. However, it’s the photo Fischer took with a family (yes, a family) of baboons that he killed, babies and all, which sparked the most ire.
In his resignation letter, BBC reported that Fischer acknowledged his wrongdoings, writing “I recently made some poor judgments that resulted in sharing photos of a hunt which did not display an appropriate level of sportsmanship and respect for the animals I harvested.”
He also claimed that these actions were not representative of his true character. However, in his previous emails, he expressed nothing but pride in his actions.
“I shot a leopard. Super cool, super lucky.” he wrote in one email.
Despite the fact that Fisher’s trip was supposedly legal, everyone from Idaho’s Governor to fellow Fish and Game Commissioners expressed anger and disapproval over Fischer’s lack of moral judgment.
According to The Huffington Post, Gary Power, a former Fish and Game Commissioner, slammed Fischer’s photo with the baboon family, telling Reuters the photo “contradicts everything that game management is about.”
Fischer served on the Fish and Game Commission since his appointment in 2014 and would have served on the Commission until 2022. The search for his replacement has reportedly already begun, and, honestly, good riddance!