Latest news with #LimpopoProvince
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
US man killed by buffalo he was tracking during South Africa hunting trip
A hunter from the United States has been killed by a buffalo he was tracking during an expedition in South Africa, organizers said this week. Asher Watkins, from Texas, was killed on Sunday 'while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa's Limpopo Province,' Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the safari company that organized the trip, said in a statement sent to CNN. Hans Vermaak, who leads CVS, which says on its website that it's the longest-running hunting safari company in South Africa, said Watkins '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.' Vermaak did not say whether the animal was later killed. Safari-style hunting is common in Southern Africa and involves driving around hunting areas in an open-top safari truck in search of game. When the target animal is spotted, hunters trail them on foot before taking a shot. CVS team member Sarah Vermaak told CNN in an email that the group 'does not intend to share any specific details regarding the tragic event (involving Watkins) publicly… out of respect for the family's privacy and in recognition of the sensitive and traumatic nature of the situation.' The Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation (CPHC), an association representing South Africa's hunting industry, said in a statement sent to CNN that 'the circumstances surrounding the incident are (being) reviewed.' Buffalos, which can weigh up to nearly 2,000 pounds, are regarded as the most dangerous animals to trail in Africa, according to CVS. In 2018, a big game hunter was similarly killed by a buffalo in the province, according to local reports. Another man in the area was reported to have been attacked and killed by a buffalo after he fired shots at it. South African authorities have faced criticism and even legal action from wildlife groups who condemn trophy hunting. 'This didn't have to happen. Trophy hunting is a cruel pastime that turns sentient beings into targets, all for a grotesque photo,' animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said in a Facebook post. Another group, called We Will Not Be Silenced about Hunters, posted on social media: 'If Asher Watkins had not come to our country to steal the lives of South African wildlife, he would still be alive and his family and friends would not be heartbroken right now.'
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
US man killed by buffalo he was tracking during South Africa hunting trip
AfricaFacebookTweetLink Follow A hunter from the United States has been killed by a buffalo he was tracking during an expedition in South Africa, organizers said this week. Asher Watkins, from Texas, was killed on Sunday 'while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa's Limpopo Province,' Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the safari company that organized the trip, said in a statement sent to CNN. Hans Vermaak, who leads CVS, which says on its website that it's the longest-running hunting safari company in South Africa, said Watkins '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.' Vermaak did not say whether the animal was later killed. Safari-style hunting is common in Southern Africa and involves driving around hunting areas in an open-top safari truck in search of game. When the target animal is spotted, hunters trail them on foot before taking a shot. CVS team member Sarah Vermaak told CNN in an email that the group 'does not intend to share any specific details regarding the tragic event (involving Watkins) publicly… out of respect for the family's privacy and in recognition of the sensitive and traumatic nature of the situation.' The Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation (CPHC), an association representing South Africa's hunting industry, said in a statement sent to CNN that 'the circumstances surrounding the incident are (being) reviewed.' Buffalos, which can weigh up to nearly 2,000 pounds, are regarded as the most dangerous animals to trail in Africa, according to CVS. In 2018, a big game hunter was similarly killed by a buffalo in the province, according to local reports. Another man in the area was reported to have been attacked and killed by a buffalo after he fired shots at it. South African authorities have faced criticism and even legal action from wildlife groups who condemn trophy hunting. 'This didn't have to happen. Trophy hunting is a cruel pastime that turns sentient beings into targets, all for a grotesque photo,' animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said in a Facebook post. Another group, called We Will Not Be Silenced about Hunters, posted on social media: 'If Asher Watkins had not come to our country to steal the lives of South African wildlife, he would still be alive and his family and friends would not be heartbroken right now.'
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
US man killed by buffalo he was tracking during South Africa hunting trip
A hunter from the United States has been killed by a buffalo he was tracking during an expedition in South Africa, organizers said this week. Asher Watkins, from Texas, was killed on Sunday 'while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa's Limpopo Province,' Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the safari company that organized the trip, said in a statement sent to CNN. Hans Vermaak, who leads CVS, which says on its website that it's the longest-running hunting safari company in South Africa, said Watkins '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.' Vermaak did not say whether the animal was later killed. Safari-style hunting is common in Southern Africa and involves driving around hunting areas in an open-top safari truck in search of game. When the target animal is spotted, hunters trail them on foot before taking a shot. CVS team member Sarah Vermaak told CNN in an email that the group 'does not intend to share any specific details regarding the tragic event (involving Watkins) publicly… out of respect for the family's privacy and in recognition of the sensitive and traumatic nature of the situation.' The Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation (CPHC), an association representing South Africa's hunting industry, said in a statement sent to CNN that 'the circumstances surrounding the incident are (being) reviewed.' Buffalos, which can weigh up to nearly 2,000 pounds, are regarded as the most dangerous animals to trail in Africa, according to CVS. In 2018, a big game hunter was similarly killed by a buffalo in the province, according to local reports. Another man in the area was reported to have been attacked and killed by a buffalo after he fired shots at it. South African authorities have faced criticism and even legal action from wildlife groups who condemn trophy hunting. 'This didn't have to happen. Trophy hunting is a cruel pastime that turns sentient beings into targets, all for a grotesque photo,' animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said in a Facebook post. Another group, called We Will Not Be Silenced about Hunters, posted on social media: 'If Asher Watkins had not come to our country to steal the lives of South African wildlife, he would still be alive and his family and friends would not be heartbroken right now.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Cape Buffalo Claims Life Of Texas Ranch Broker While On Safari
When a Dallas ranch realtor went on a hunt in South Africa, little did he know it would be his last. Asher Watkins was on a South African hunting safari on Sunday when a buffalo attacked, giving him fatal injuries, according to a statement from Coenraad Vermaak Safaris. Watkins was managing partner at the Dallas-based Watkins Ranch Group, a rural real estate firm. 'It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins,' wrote Hans Vermaak in the statement. 'This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.' Watkins was reportedly on a hunting safari in South Africa's northern Limpopo Province on August 3, with a professional hunter and a tracker from the company. Then, an 'unwounded' buffalo he had been tracking turned in a 'sudden and unprovoked attack' and gave him injuries that proved fatal. He was tracking a 1.3-ton Cape Buffalo, sometimes known as the 'Black Death' for its dangerous reputation. 'This is a deeply traumatic incident for all involved,' Vermaak wrote. 'The family and our team members who were present at the time are understandably shaken.' Watkins' ex-wife, Courtney, remembered him in a statement reported by Metro. She said their teenage daughter, Savannah, is in 'shock.' 'It's a reality that's still hard to put into words. Our hearts are heavy as we navigate the days ahead, especially for Savannah as she grieves her dad,' Courtney reportedly said. 'We've been in a state of shock and heartbreak ever since, trying to process not just the loss, but the complexity that comes with it.' Watkins was a 'Texas native' raised in Dallas, who spent 'the better part of his life' in the outdoors and on ranches across the state, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also worked on his family's hunting and cattle ranch. He has been a 'proven leader' in real estate for nearly a decade, and has experience in the oil and gas industry, as well as 'wildlife management and wetland development.' Watkins worked across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Nevada. 'We are doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss,' Vermaak wrote. 'We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
5 days ago
- New York Times
Big-Game Hunter, Eying His Next Trophy, Is Killed by Buffalo During Safari
A wealthy big-game hunter from Texas was killed on Sunday 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, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris said in an email on Thursday. A mature Cape buffalo bull can weigh nearly 2,000 pounds, 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 cooperating fully with the authorities to make sure that it had followed all of the proper procedures. The South African Police Service did not respond on Thursday to a request for comment. Mr. Watkins had a daughter and was divorced. He was a managing partner of Watkins Ranch Group, a land broker specializing in ranches and recreational properties, some listing for more than $20 million, according to his LinkedIn profile and the company's social media accounts. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
