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He tracked a fox for months, only to find him shot down. His final tribute is heartbreaking

'He was part of a lot of my mornings, my evenings, and my peace. Someone ended that with a gun.'
UPDATED JUN 2, 2025
(L) A man clicking pictures in the forest; (R) A wild fox walking in the wild. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) MSRPhoto; (R) Scott Suriano)
(L) A man clicking pictures in the forest; (R) A wild fox walking in the wild. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) MSRPhoto; (R) Scott Suriano)

As the world continues to grow more conscious of animal rights, hunting comes into direct contradiction with contemporary views on morality. Despite strict rules, countless wild animals are killed every day for illegal smuggling operations trading ivory, skins, and other body parts worldwide. Shelby Grant, a professional wildlife photographer from the UK who goes by @shelby.photography__ on Instagram, experienced a similar grievous situation when he found the fox he had been following for months shot dead.

A red fox cub running in the wild (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by James Warwick)
A red fox cub running in the wild (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by James Warwick)

"This morning, I found something that I never wanted to see. The fox I have been following, tracking, and photographing for months is now gone," Grant said. The fox was shot dead, and Grant found him lying lifeless in the middle of the field. "He wasn't just a wild animal to me, he was part of a lot of my mornings, my evenings, and my peace. Someone ended that with a gun," Grant said, revealing the profound attachment he had developed with the wild critter. The photographer looked clearly distraught as he spoke about how hunting innocent animals isn't just cruel but also "unnecessary."

A game hunter looking through the reeds with his sniper rifle (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by PeopleImages)
A game hunter looking through the reeds with his sniper rifle. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by PeopleImages)

When Grant saw the fox, he said he couldn't hold back his tears. To honor the beautiful creature and the lovely time he spent photographing the fox, the man shared some of his favorite pictures of the animal. If you look closely, in some photos, the fox appears to be looking straight into the camera, as if he knew he was being photographed.

Fox hunting was declared illegal nearly 20 years ago in England; however, even today, hunters have been killing hundreds of them without any fear. According to the League Against Cruel Sports, more than 100 young foxes or cubs were seen being chased by dogs across England and Wales this autumn. Now, for those who are unaware, this is a part of a gruesome practice called 'cub hunting,' where hunters train their dogs to chase and kill foxes by using baby foxes for their practice run.

Meanwhile, reacting to Grant's tribute video, @katrina commented, "Moments like these really make me lose hope in humanity. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy carry on in your photos." Another user, @anwenw.wild, shared, "Such a devastating end to an innocent and beautiful creature. I can't understand how someone could do this to a living thing, all for no reason. Thank you for honoring this beautiful fox. They were lucky to be photographed by such a talented photographer." @wolfgang2242, who was clearly disappointed with the fox's unfortunate death, hoped, "It's heartbreaking. I'm glad his memory is in your photos. Maybe the story of his unnecessary death will change the heart of someone and prevent the death of another."

Image Source: Instagram | @car_in_the_country
Image Source: Instagram | @car_in_the_country
Image Source: Instagram | @blossomandflo2
Image Source: Instagram | @blossomandflo2

Similarly, @wifeofstpeter69 revealed, "I woke up this morning to noises outside. My dogs were barking. I looked outside, and from the darkness I saw a fox in my garden. He/she curled up and went to sleep underneath a rosebush on some pebbles. It struck me then how magical it was seeing him/her. I held my breath, watching, not really believing what I was seeing. It was pure enchantment. I live in Australia, in suburbia. Foxes are considered pests and invaders. But this morning I welcomed him/her."


 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Shelby Grant (@shelby.photography__)


 

You can follow Shelby Grant (@shelby.photography__) on Instagram for more animal photography-related content.

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