By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press
LONDON – It’s a photo of animal majesty that has turned into a murder mystery: Who shot the Emperor?
Nature lovers on Tuesday were mourning a red stag dubbed the Emperor of Exmoor – a 9-foot giant reported to be the biggest wild animal in the British Isles. He was found dead days after his picture appeared in the national press.
The Emperor’s size set him apart from the herd, but may also have made him prize prey for hunters willing to pay handsomely for such a majestic trophy.