During a hunting trip in South Africa, a Texas trophy hunter and real estate tycoon was murdered by a Cape buffalo. The safari operator called the occurrence “sudden and unprovoked.”
The big horned beast attacked first, but Asher Watkins had been pursuing the bull in hopes of a kill.
According to Hans Vermaak, the head of the safari business Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), “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,” the statement read.
“It makes sense that the family and our team members who were there are upset. We won’t be disclosing any more information out of consideration for the privacy of the family and our staff members involved,” Vermaak added.
Watkins and his family were referred to by him as “long-standing friends and part of the CVS family.”
“Most ‘wanted’ dangerous game animals by trophy hunters across the globe,” the safari business claims, are cape buffalo.
With “a more fearsome reputation than a cape buffalo!,” the safari firm declared.
“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,” CVS added.
Animal rights organizations and activists debated the morality of trophy hunting on the internet after learning that Watkins had been killed by the same animal he had attempted to kill.
Animal rights organization PETA posted on Instagram, “Asher Watkins stalked a Cape buffalo while on a lavish hunting trip in South Africa.” “The frightened buffalo retaliated after being cornered. Animals are not wall decorations or trophies. “Trophy hunting must stop!”
The post’s “cheers to the buffalo” comment has received thousands of likes.
Watkins oversaw multimillion-dollar properties in Texas, Colorado, and Arkansas as the head of the real estate brokerage company Watkins Ranch Group.
According to his company biography, Watkins was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved the outdoors.
According to the safari firm, Watkins’ surviving family members include his mother Gwen, daughter Savannah, brother Amon, and stepfather Tony.
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