WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Asher Watkins, 52, was gored to death by a buffalo nicknamed the “Black Death” as he took part in a hunting safari in South Africa last week
A veteran big game hunter was fatally mauled by the very buffalo he was pursuing as a trophy in South Africa last week.
Asher Watkins, 52, who amassed his fortune through ranch trading in the U.S., was participating in a $10,000 hunting expedition organised by Coenraad Vermaak Safaris whilst tracking a colossal 2,800-pound buffalo, regarded as one of the “big five” most perilous to hunt.
In a bitter irony, the buffalo turned on Watkins in a “sudden and unprovoked attack” during the expedition at the vast 50,000-acre Bambisana concession, launching a deadly charge that claimed his life almost immediately.
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The Cape buffalo, as it’s known locally in the region, carries the sinister moniker “Black Death” owing to their role in approximately 200 fatalities annually and for proving more deadly to hunters than lions, rhinos or crocodiles.
The Cape buffalo reaches heights of up to 5 ft. 6 in and is recognisable by its curved horns and dark, shaggy brown coat that provides excellent camouflage in the wilderness, reports the Mirror US.
The infamous creature was characterised as possessing the most “fearsome reputation” of all “species on the planet” given that they are “responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year, Hans Vermaak wrote in a statement on CV Safaris’ website.
“The buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa,” they noted on their website. “[They] can absorb astounding amounts of lead even when shots are well placed and a charging buffalo comes at an alarming speed.”
Vermaak described the incident as “deeply traumatic” for witnesses and noted that fellow safari-goers and Watkins’ relatives “are understandably shaken. He said: “He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers.”
What triggered the buffalo’s fatal assault on the hunting group remains unclear, though accounts indicate the beast turned hostile before launching itself at Watkins. Relatives are now honouring the dedicated hunter whilst coming to terms with his sudden passing, including Watkins’ former spouse Courtney who shared a heartfelt message online.
“This photo is from another time, another chapter of our lives – but it’s one that will always be a part of our daughter’s story,” she wrote beneath a family photograph on Facebook.
She added: “On Sunday, August 3, … Asher Watkins, died suddenly in a tragic accident involving a Cape buffalo while on a hunting trip in South Africa. It’s a reality that’s still hard to put into words. Our hearts are heavy as we navigate the days ahead.
“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,” she added. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, or simply held us in your thoughts. Your love has truly carried us through the hardest few days of our lives.”
His relatives have been told of the tragedy, with some speaking publicly. A close mate of the father revealed: “He spent every spare moment he could with [his daughter] and shared his life with her. Nobody could love a daughter more than he did. She will be broken to lose Asher, who was her best friend as well as her dad.”
Asher amassed his wealth through his business, the Texas-based Watkins Ranch Group, renowned for trading in luxury ranches with price tags that can soar to a whopping $39 million.
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