US millionaire gored to death by buffalo he was hunting in Limpopo
The 52-year-old hunter had reportedly paid Coernraad Vermaak Safaris around R177,221 for the trip in which he planned to stalk and kill wild animals in the expedition.
"It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA. On Sunday, while on a hunting safari with us in Limpopo province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo.
"He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones," said the safari's Hans Vermaak in a statement.
The safari said cape buffalo have some of the most fearsome reputations on the planet. "Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year, the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa, let alone the world," it said on its website.
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The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
More details emerge on how millionaire US hunter was killed by buffalo in Limpopo
Asher Watkins was impaled on the buffalo's horns and crushed by its weight after the animal was shot. A cunning buffalo being stalked as a trophy by an American big game hunter was shot dead a split-second after turning the tables and goring him to death. Multi-millionaire Asher Watkins, 59, was closing in on the animal in South Africa with a high-powered rifle as a tracker stealthily guided him in for a kill shot. But the aggressive and unpredictable buffalo bull, who had grown used to being hunted, got wind that he was being followed and took cover in thick bush. US hunter impaled and crushed by buffalo As Watkins, who was a renowned hunter of wildlife since a kid, crept in, the buffalo – nicknamed the Black Death – burst out of the scrub in a deadly ambush. The 1.3-ton beast accelerated in seconds to 35mph from less than 10 metres, giving his hunter no chance to fire a shot, and impaled him on his horns. ALSO READ: Texas millionaire killed by Cape buffalo during hunt in Limpopo The impact knocked Watkins from Dallas, Texas, flying backwards just as the professional hunter guiding the expedition opened fire from close range. The divorced father was impaled on the buffalo's horns and crushed by its weight. Buffalo shot by hunting guide The professional hunter guiding Watkins through the bush is believed to have fired the single bullet from a high-calibre rifle that instantly killed it with a heart shot. The snorting and angered buffalo collapsed in a cloud of dust beside its tormentor. The news of the buffalo's death will be greeted with dismay and sadness, as thousands had previously commented online that they hoped it had escaped and run to safety. But sadly, the bull – a solitary male excluded from the herd due to age – died on the spot. Watkins suffered 'horrific injuries' Bearded big game hunter Watkins, dressed in camouflage, lay dying close by. The professional hunter from Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), running the trophy hunt in Limpopo, called for medical help, but nothing could be done for him. An emergency services source said: 'He was beyond help except to load his body into the ambulance. He had horrific injuries to his stomach and to his ribs. 'Buffalo kills are not rare in Limpopo, and not many survive, but when our guys got there, it was clear he must have died instantly from the injuries he had suffered. 'It was a big buffalo, and anything standing in the way of a charge would not survive. If left alone, they are pretty tolerant, but if you upset them, it will not end well. 'The buffalo lay dead where it was shot with a single bullet wound,' she said. US millionaire Asher Watkins posted many photos of animals he had hunted. Picture: Asher Watkins/Facebook Businessman Watkins, who made his fortune selling upmarket Texan ranches valued between R23m and R700m, travelled worldwide to shoot wild animals. There are many photos on his Facebook page showing animals he has hunted and killed, including a mountain lion, many types of deer, turkey shoots and wild fowl. His ex-wife Courtney, who posted news of Watkins' death on her Facebook page, was forced to take it down after it was deluged by trolls delighted that the buffalo 'won'. Watkins' own hunting page on Facebook was also filled with posts describing his death from the buffalo as 'karma' and an AI meme with his head on a hunting shield. What happens to hunted buffalo? Many were hoping the buffalo that killed him had managed to escape, but the professional hunter with Watkins took it out with a single heart shot. If the hunt had gone as normal, the buffalo's head and skin would have been taken by the hunting company and given to a taxidermist to prepare as a trophy. Its vital organs are much sought after for culinary purposes and would have been sold, and the less valuable flesh distributed to local villagers, a safari expert said. ALSO READ: Woman tells of how she tried to fight off lion with her fists after it attacked her husband An inquest has been opened into the death on Sunday, and the three members of Watkins' family who were with him on the expedition will fly his body back home. He had flown to Johannesburg from Dallas with his mother, stepfather, and brother, where his professional hunter was waiting for the flight up country. They landed by light aircraft in the 50 000-acre hunting concession Bambisana in Limpopo. His first call was a common waterbuck the following day. Asher Watkins with a mountain lion he had previously hunted. Picture: Asher Watkins/Facebook On Sunday afternoon, he began tracking a large buffalo, said by hunting company CVS to be 'unwounded and unprovoked', on what was to be his final hunt. The news of his death was broken to members of his immediate family in Dallas. Watkins' ex-wife, Courtney, who filed for divorce against the ranch real estate multi-millionaire from Texas, is comforting their devastated 16-year-old daughter, Savannah. They both shared custody of their daughter, but she doted on her father and is said by friends to be 'in bits' and unable to accept he is not returning from the safari. ALSO READ: Trophy hunting: Controversy or lifeline for SA's wildlife economy? South African police spokesman Colonel Malesala Ledwaba said: 'We were led on Sunday to a game farm where the body of a man killed by a buffalo was found. 'He had serious injuries to his stomach and his side and had already been certified dead by a doctor with the ambulance, and the buffalo was lying close to him. 'The buffalo appeared to have been killed by a single bullet,' he said. One of Africa's most dangerous animals Buffalo make up one of the Big 5 of Africa's most dangerous animals and kill more big game hunters than the other four of elephant, rhino, lion and leopard. Buffalo kill more than 200 people in Africa a year. Watkins would have paid tens of thousands of US dollars for the trip for his family to South Africa, and would pay an extra fee per different type of animal he shot. A prime male buffalo, like the one that killed him, averages at R175 000 each. ALSO READ: Animals fighting back: Wounded buffalo kills poacher in Kruger National Park The website of hunting company CVS pulls no punches on its website when describing a buffalo hunt. It warns: 'No species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation than a Cape Buffalo. Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year. 'The buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa. Buffalo hunting is thrilling and exhilarating, and at the top of every hunter's wish list. 'Crafty and belligerent, he seeks refuge in thickets when wounded or when danger approaches. Buffalo are known to charge unprovoked, so prepare for the worst. 'Buffalo have earned their reputation and can absorb astounding amounts of lead, even when shots are well-placed and a charging buffalo comes at an alarming speed. 'Cool nerves and a steady hand are crucial', said the company running his doomed trip. A Cape Buffalo can weigh 1.5 tons and be 11 feet long and 5ft 6in tall. Its horns are joined by a solid lump of bone across the forehead, and its pointed tips can be 4ft apart. They are unpredictable and aggressive, and their only predators are humans and lions. Other hunters killed by buffalo in Limpopo In 2018, big game hunter Claude Keynhams, 54, was also killed in Limpopo by a buffalo after the safari group he was being paid to guide shot another buffalo dead. The South African professional hunter was trying to load the dead buffalo onto a lorry with his team when he was blindsided by a second buffalo, which gored him to death. In 2022, another big game hunter was killed at Steenbokpan, Limpopo, having shot and wounded a buffalo when it launched a furious charge at him despite being fired at. Benjamin de Bruyn, 50, died instantly on the buffalo's horns as the buffalo was killed. READ NEXT: Elephant shot eight times during 'unlawful' hunt at Limpopo game reserve
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Buffalo attack claims life of US millionaire during Limpopo hunting trip
Buffalo attack claims life of US millionaire during Limpopo hunting trip. Image: Asher Watkins/Facebook Asher Watkins, a millionaire from the US, was gored to death by a buffalo he was hunting in Limpopo at the weekend. The 52-year-old hunter had reportedly paid Coernraad Vermaak Safaris around R177 221 for the trip in which he planned to stalk and kill wild animals. "It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA. On Sunday, while on a hunting safari with us in Limpopo province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo. "He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones," said the safari's Hans Vermaak in a statement. The safari said cape buffalo have some of the most fearsome reputations on the planet. "Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year, the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa, let alone the world," it said on its website. The animal was further described as being crafty and combative, seeking cover in thickets when injured or threatened. According to Avula Safaris, hunting in South Africa, whether local or foreign, requires particular authorisation. "Permits for dangerous game like buffalo or lion are issued in limited quantities. Certain animals like rhinos and wild dogs are strictly protected under national law." Cape Times
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Limpopo police confirm inquest after US millionaire killed by buffalo
An inquest has been opened into the death of Asher Watkins during a hunting safari on Sunday. This was confirmed to Caxton Network News by Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the spokesperson for the Limpopo police. Hans Vermaak of Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS) said in a statement earlier that Watkins was killed in an 'unprovoked attack by an unwounded' Cape buffalo that he was tracking. He said they are co-operating with 'relevant authorities to ensure all procedures are followed'. Asher, in his 50s, was a millionaire from Dallas, Texas, who reportedly believed in hunting as a powerful conservation tool. He was a managing partner at Watkins Ranch Group – a real estate marketing firm dedicated to the sale of ranches, land and recreational properties. 'We can confirm that SAPS Makhado are investigating an inquest following the untimely death… The incident happened on Sunday [around] 13:00 on [a] farm along [the] N1 to Musina,' Ledwaba said. Ledwaba said that the security personnel at the farm – along the N1 to Musina – took police officers to the scene. 'They were shown a lifeless body of a man already certified dead inside an ambulance. [The] deceased [had] injuries on the stomach and the side of the ribs.' Vermaak's statement said: '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.' Ledwaba said the buffalo was found lying dead nearby, with a bullet wound. 'Police investigations are continuing,' he concluded. Caxton Network News contacted CVS to ask if the buffalo was shot after Watkins' death, but was told the company would not make any statements other than what was said in the initial statement. CVS reiterated that the buffalo was not wounded when it was being tracked by the hunting party. 'While we understand the media and public's interest in this matter, we trust that you will appreciate that our priority at this time is with the family of the deceased and all individuals directly affected by this tragic event.' CVS said it does not intend to publicly share any specific details regarding the event. 'This decision has been made out of respect for the family's privacy and in recognition of the sensitive and traumatic nature of the situation. In our view, sharing further specifics would not serve to add any value and may only contribute to further distress for those directly involved.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
