In true reality star fashion, the Bowmars are yet again in the midst of a controversy. The couple ignited a firestorm of online criticism when Josh Bowmar posted photos of a slain crocodile to his Instagram account and claimed it was a "pending" record-breaking kill.
"PENDING NEW WORLD RECORD CROC with a bow," the caption reads. "This monstrous crocodile measured in at an astounding 16' 3"! Making him the largest croc in history to ever be harvest with a bow and arrow. The best part is, he's a 100% wild & 100% free ranging croc in the wilds of Tanzania, which is not how most of the WRs are shot in Africa."
The post quickly went viral. It gained the attention of media outlets including Tanzanian publication The Citizen, which responded with an article raising questions about the ethics of the Bowmar's hunting exploits.
Meanwhile, the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority released a statement that confirmed Josh Bowmar's recent crocodile was hunted legally.
"Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) confirms the legal hunting of a crocodile by American hunter Josh Bowmar, following strict regulations," the statement read. "The Tanzania Tourist Hunting industry, vital for wildlife conservation, has been misrepresented on social media."
In Tanzania, hunting crocodiles is legal and regulated by Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
It appears that Bowmar's crocodile was harvested legally, but no agency has confirmed that it is a new world record—and likely won't. There is very little data available that has tracked bowhunting crocodiles in Africa, according to the Tanzanian Hunting Operators Association.
This isn't the first time the Bowmars have found themselves in the middle of controversy. The Bowmars made headlines in 2016 when the couple faced criticism for attaching a GoPro camera to a spear, killing a black bear with it, then posting that footage to their YouTube and social media channels. Many called that footage distasteful and the hunt had wide-ranging repercussions, including Under Armour dropping Sarah Bowmar's sponsorship and a spear hunting ban in Alberta.
The couple also remains under a three-year probation in the state of Nebraska, where they accepted a plea deal for charges stemming from their involvement in a Nebraska poaching ring from 2015 to 2017.
