The furore over whether the "Emperor of Exmoor" was alive or dead reached Westminster yesterday, with lobbying MPs desperate to protect red deer from marksmen.

Five backbencher MPs signed an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to stop hunters preying on Britain's wild animals altogether.

The nine-foot stag was rumoured to have been gunned down by bounty hunters after a £1,250 price tag was placed on its head.

It disappeared more than two weeks ago in Rackenford, North Devon, and despite reports the beast is still roaming the moor, has not been officially seen since.

Lobbyists branded the hunting practice as "senseless destruction" and are urging the Government to protect what they are calling "special individual animals".

David Crausby, Labour MP for Bolton North, said: "It's an absolute outrage in my opinion that people should take pleasure from shooting such a magnificent animal.

"Hopefully we can put pressure on to make sure these animals survive."

Labour's Jim Dobbin and Michael Connarty, Bob Russell from the Liberal Democrats and Mark Durkan of the SDLP have also put pen to paper on the motion.

The document calls on Parliament to condemn the shooting of the stag and demands the Coalition protect individual animals in danger.

It reads: "This beautiful animal, standing nearly nine feet tall should have been spared to live out his life as a magnificent example of the giant red stag, the biggest wild land animal in the UK."

The 12-year-old 300lb creature is thought to have been killed by a licensed stalker.