A Canadian couple faces online backlash after posting a photo of themselves kissing behind a dead lion during a South Africa hunting trip.

Daren and Carolyne Carter, from Edmonton, Alberta, took part in Legelela Safaris' tour when they shot and killed the magnificent animal.

The viral image shows a man and a woman, behind a lion, posing for a romantic snap.

The photo was initially shared on a Facebook page belonging to Legelela Safaris, a trophy-hunting company that offers its visitors a wide range of animals as prey, including lions, among others.

The company regularly shares snaps of dead animals alongside proud hunters on their social media page.

The couple captioned the photo:

"Hard work in the hot Kalahari sun...well done. A monster lion."

Other pictures also show the same couple posing in front of another dead lion, captioned:

"There is nothing like hunting the king of the jungle in the sands of the Kalahari."

"Well done to the happy huntress and the team..."

The couple runs a Solitude Taxidermy in Parkland County, Alta. And according to Mirror reports, they described themselves as "passionate conservationists" despite taking part in trophy hunting.

Carter told the Mirror:

"We aren't interested in commenting on that at all. It's too political."

Eduardo Goncalves, an animal activist against trophy hunting, believes the lion the couple shot was bred on a lion farm and killed in an enclosure.

Goncalves said:

"There is nothing romantic about killing an innocent animal."

"It looks as though this lion was a tame animal killed in an enclosure, bred for the sole purpose of being the subject of a smug selfie."

"This couple should be utterly ashamed of themselves, not showing off and snogging for the cameras."

The company charges £2,000 for zebra and £2,400 for giraffe hunts. They also offer leopard, elephant, rhino, and lion hunts.

When the photo of this sickening kissing couple behind a dead lion was shared on Twitter, social media users reacted with fury.

One commenter wrote:

"I am thoroughly disgusted and appalled at these people. This is all for sport, and it is absolutely disgusting. This has to stop now!"

Another said:

"I just don't get it? Why would you do this? Why? What is the point? Does it make them feel good and brave?"

"In my eyes, they are just cowardly scumbags celebrating the death, this is horrible."

Many animal advocacy groups are now campaigning against horrific trophy hunting practices.

Most campaigns began after a lion, named Cecil, was shot and killed in 2015 in Zimbabwe by an American dentist, Walter Palmer.