‘Black death': US big-game hunter killed by buffalo he was targeting
The victim, Asher Watkins, 52, a Dallas real estate executive who sold ranches, was pursuing one of the horned buffaloes in Limpopo province, the northernmost province in South Africa, when the attack happened on Sunday, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris said in an email.
A mature Cape buffalo bull can weigh nearly 900 kilograms, the company's website says, cautioning that it is not unusual for buffaloes to charge hunters without provocation and that 'no species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation.'
The aggressive temperament of the Cape buffalo has earned it a nickname: black death.
'Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers,' Hans Vermaak, whose family runs the safari company, said in a statement.
The safari company, which did not provide further details about the deadly encounter, said that it was co-operating fully with the authorities to make sure that it had followed proper procedures.
The South African Police Service did not respond to a request for comment.
Watkins had a daughter and was divorced. He was a managing partner of Watkins Ranch Group, a land broker specialising in ranches and recreational properties, some listing for more than $30 million, according to his LinkedIn profile and the company's social media accounts.
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Black death': US big-game hunter killed by buffalo he was targeting
A wealthy big-game hunter from Texas was killed when a Cape buffalo that he had been eying for his next trophy attacked him during a safari in South Africa, according to the company that arranged the expedition. The victim, Asher Watkins, 52, a Dallas real estate executive who sold ranches, was pursuing one of the horned buffaloes in Limpopo province, the northernmost province in South Africa, when the attack happened on Sunday, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris said in an email. A mature Cape buffalo bull can weigh nearly 900 kilograms, the company's website says, cautioning that it is not unusual for buffaloes to charge hunters without provocation and that 'no species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation.' The aggressive temperament of the Cape buffalo has earned it a nickname: black death. 'Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers,' Hans Vermaak, whose family runs the safari company, said in a statement. The safari company, which did not provide further details about the deadly encounter, said that it was co-operating fully with the authorities to make sure that it had followed proper procedures. The South African Police Service did not respond to a request for comment. Watkins had a daughter and was divorced. He was a managing partner of Watkins Ranch Group, a land broker specialising in ranches and recreational properties, some listing for more than $30 million, according to his LinkedIn profile and the company's social media accounts.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
‘Black death': US big-game hunter killed by buffalo he was targeting
A wealthy big-game hunter from Texas was killed when a Cape buffalo that he had been eying for his next trophy attacked him during a safari in South Africa, according to the company that arranged the expedition. The victim, Asher Watkins, 52, a Dallas real estate executive who sold ranches, was pursuing one of the horned buffaloes in Limpopo province, the northernmost province in South Africa, when the attack happened on Sunday, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris said in an email. A mature Cape buffalo bull can weigh nearly 900 kilograms, the company's website says, cautioning that it is not unusual for buffaloes to charge hunters without provocation and that 'no species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation.' The aggressive temperament of the Cape buffalo has earned it a nickname: black death. 'Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers,' Hans Vermaak, whose family runs the safari company, said in a statement. The safari company, which did not provide further details about the deadly encounter, said that it was co-operating fully with the authorities to make sure that it had followed proper procedures. The South African Police Service did not respond to a request for comment. Watkins had a daughter and was divorced. He was a managing partner of Watkins Ranch Group, a land broker specialising in ranches and recreational properties, some listing for more than $30 million, according to his LinkedIn profile and the company's social media accounts.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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