Outrage after businessman poses with dead baboon on hunting trip
WARNING, DISTURBING CONTENT: Photos of a Canberra businessman posing with dead animals during an African hunting trip have been slammed online by animal rights activists.
Nick Haridemos resigned as the vice president of the Hellenic Club on Wednesday following the backlash over the photos taken between 2010 and 2016.
One of the photos shows a dead baboon seated upright in the driver's seat of a car while wearing a hat and sunglasses, the Canberra Times reported.
Mr Haridemos was posing next to the animal in the car.
Other pictures show a dead elephant and one of Mr Haridemos carrying a tusk over his shoulder.
"Appalled! Nick Haridemos must be removed from the Board. Shame!" one person posted on Tuesday after the images surfaced.
Another said: "He is an absolute disgrace and I will boycott the Hellenic Club whilst he is still on the board."
All the photos are believed to have been taken during organised safaris.
Warning about common household items after pet dog found dead
Man reveals why he killed and ate adopted pet pig
“The new driver gig was a blast … We did a video clip with Blake wired into the microphone talking and we actually drove off!” user nickha1, who uploaded the photos, wrote.
Mr Haridemos responded to the controversy through his lawyer.
“Mr Haridemos has, on occasions, engaged in the activity of ‘conservation hunting’,” his lawyer told The Canberra Times.
“This is a regulated activity, which is undertaken in accordance with licences and quotas issued by the relevant country, and is conducted in a manner that does not pose a threat to any endangered species.”
On Wednesday, the Hellenic Club announced Mr Haridemos' resignation.
"The Hellenic Club of Canberra advises that Director and Vice-President, Nick Haridemos has resigned from the Hellenic Club Board," the statement read.
"Mr Haridemos’ resignation takes effect immediately."
In a statement, the club said Mr Haridemos "offered his resignation immediately upon the article being published".
"The Hellenic Club distances itself from the photos and the activities that they portray. The Hellenic Club supports and will continue to support wildlife groups and conservation charitable organisations including the RSPCA," president Andrew Satsias said.
"As a large community club we recognise our role as a significant contributor to the social fabric and values of our city, and we stand by our obligation to reflect the best for our community and members.
"The Club distances itself from the photos and the activities that they portray. The Club empathises with anyone who has mistakenly associated the Club with the photos.
"The photos published are in no way connected to or representative of the values of the Hellenic Club or its members."
