Texas Hunter Killed by Cape Buffalo in South Africa

Texas Hunter Killed by Cape Buffalo in South Africa

An avid big game hunter from Texas was killed by a Cape buffalo in South Africa, a hunting company has confirmed. The incident has reignited a fierce debate over trophy hunting.

Asher Watkins, a prominent real estate mogul, was on a hunting expedition when he was fatally attacked by a buffalo he was tracking. The safari company, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), described the event as a “sudden and unprovoked attack.” According to the company, Watkins was pursuing the animal with a professional hunter and a tracker when the buffalo charged.

Hans Vermaak, the head of the safari company, stated that the family and staff were “understandably shaken.” He added that no further details would be released out of respect for their privacy. Vermaak noted that Watkins and his family had a long-standing relationship with the company.

Cape buffalo are known among hunters as one of the most dangerous big game animals in the world. The safari company’s website calls them “the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa” and notes they are responsible for numerous hunter deaths and injuries each year.

The circumstances of Watkins’s death, particularly being killed by the very animal he was hunting, quickly fueled online discussions. Animal rights organizations and activists used the incident to criticize the ethics of trophy hunting.

The animal rights group PETA shared a post on Instagram, writing, “Asher Watkins went on a luxury hunting trip in South Africa when he stalked a Cape buffalo. The terrified buffalo was cornered and retaliated. Animals aren’t trophies or wall decorations. Trophy hunting must end!” A comment on the post, “cheers to the buffalo,” received thousands of likes.

Watkins was the leader of the Watkins Ranch Group, a real estate firm specializing in luxury properties across Texas, Colorado, and Arkansas. His company biography described him as a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Watkins is survived by his mother, daughter, brother, and stepfather.