Asher Watkins, a billionaire and famous big-game hunter from Texas, died after being mauled by a Cape buffalo he was trying to capture on a safari in South Africa. The 52-year-old, who was a managing partner at Watkins Ranch Group, was killed while hunting a 1.3-ton Cape buffalo bull in Limpopo province.
Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CV Safaris), the company that planned the trip, released a statement confirming the sad event. The statement said, “We are very sad and heavy-hearted to confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA.” The firm said that Watkins was “fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo” while chasing it with a professional hunter and a tracker on Sunday, August 3.
Reports say that the Cape buffalo, a type of animal known for being aggressive and commonly called “Black Death,” charged at Watkins and killed him “almost instantly.” Watkins was on a guided hunting excursion that was said to be worth about $10,000. He was an avid hunter who often posted pictures of his kills on social media. It is still not clear if the buffalo was shot and killed after the event or if it got away.
Watkins’ family is in shock after the tragedy. Courtney, his ex-wife, said on social media that he had died and that his teenage daughter, Savannah, is sad. She remarked, “Our hearts are heavy as we go through the next few days, especially for Savannah as she grieves her dad.” It was said that Watkins’ mother, brother, and stepfather were all at the safari lodge waiting for him to come back when they heard the terrible news.
The event has once again brought up questions about the morality and risks of hunting big game. Many people think the Cape buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa because it kills more hunters each year than any other huge animal. The CV Safaris website says that the animal has a “fearsome reputation” and that it is known to charge “unprovoked.”