Posted on 08/09/2025 6:16:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A Texas real estate magnate and trophy hunter was killed by a Cape buffalo during a hunting expedition in South Africa, according to a safari company, which described the incident as "sudden and unprovoked."
Asher Watkins had been tracking the bull for a kill when the large horned animal staged an attack first.
"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," said Hans Vermaak, leader of the safari company Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), in a statement.
"The family and our team members who were present at the time are understandably shaken. Out of respect for the family's privacy as well as our staff members involved, we will not be sharing further details," Vermaak also said.
He described Watkins and his family as "long-standing friends and part of the CVS family."
Cape buffalo are considered one of the "most 'wanted' dangerous game animal by trophy hunters across the globe," according to the safari company.
No other animal has "a more fearsome reputation than a cape buffalo!," the safari company said.
"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 also said.
The nature of Watkins' death – being killed by the same animal he had sought to take down – sparked discussions online among animal rights groups and activists on the ethics of trophy hunting.
"Asher Watkins went on a luxury hunting trip in South Africa when he stalked a Cape buffalo," animal rights group PETA wrote on Instagram. "The terrified buffalo was cornered and retaliated. Animals aren't trophies or wall decorations. Trophy hunting must end!"
A comment under the post that said "cheers to the buffalo" has racked up thousands of likes.
Watkins led the real estate brokerage firm Watkins Ranch Group, where he was responsible for multimillion-dollar properties across Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.
Watkins was a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, according to his company biography.
Watkins' mother Gwen, daughter Savannah, brother Amon and stepfather Tony are among his surviving relatives, the safari company said.
Peter Hathaway Capstick also wrote “Death in the Tall Grass”. Never forget the description of the power of the cape buffalo’s heart / circulatory system. On one occasion a cape buffalo was shot near the heart. The stream of blood that squirted out was the diameter of your thumb and the pressure shot the stream 30 feet from the animal.
I raise Cape buffalo in Texas.
Very stout fences, lol.
Funniest story is when I told pipeline guys not to go into a pasture and we had to wait until the bull decided to move to the next pasture and close the gate.
Bull absolutely destroyed their pickup.
There was an article here on FR a few weeks ago about a rancher that was killed by 2 water buffalos that he got at an auction to interbreed with his existing beef herd. They were not even capes. Also someone posted that capes were the only hooved animals that would fight instead of flight when in danger, what a bunch of hooey. Texas longhorns will eviscerate a dog in a heartbeat and donkey have a well earned reputation for killing wolves and coyotes that endanger their beef herd. One of the dangers of the cattle drives in the 1800’s was the longhorn range bulls that would charge and gore the cowhands horse. And lord help ya if you find yourself in the middle of a pasture and you come face to face with a Holstein bull.
But I don’t need to know anything about you, other than your comments, in order to respond to them.
And why would you assume I’m with anyone?
I think that guy knows what he’s talking about, and I think it’s smart of you to pay attention to him.
Actually Africans did starve before we started feeding them
By the millions
And these animals need culling typically
And safari hunting or not are major local $$ for folks
U need to think it thru beyond the emotive glee
U eat flesh if u post here
So you’re a self righteous hypocrite
But admittedly that’s pretty ubiquitous in the modern west lol
👊
Good snag
I doubt cape distinguish tracking from walk about
If they see you you’re in danger
Mean cows
The article mentions lefties on anti hunting sites crowing the buff killed someone’s family member
And we have a handful here doing same
On a so called conservative site
Commonality is odd
He liked to go out on foot and kill things. Apparently it was a dangerous hobby.
Shooting the creature from a helicopter would make a lot more sense.
It’s humerous in your self righteousness that you think it’s a 1:1 Texan kills animal, Africans get meat, when knowing the corrupt history of African nations. I’d like to know how big of a cut the local warlord gets off the top, and then the dictator running the ‘government’ gets their share all before any hungry villagers see any money or meat.
Better yet, I'd like you to prove that such warlord is getting any cut..........You made the claim, so prove it.
As a side note, the rangers patrolling Africa in search of poachers are paid from the revenues that these "monster" trophy hunters bring in........
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