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.
Hunting is great unless you lose, of course. You pays your money, you takes your chances with that kind of game. I’ve known people killed by deer even.
Nice catch! I loved the Perfect Strangers album.
They end up hunting you was one adage I’ve heard about these beasts. Also, if they tree you they wait or die waiting. Probably apocryphal but great for campfire story time.
Cape Buff are no joke. I had an opportunity to buy some cowboy boots in cape buff. I passed saying, they’ll probably stomp me to death in my sleep.
I think the meaning he was going for here would have been better represented by “the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa, possibly the world”.
I don’t see how the idiom “let alone” would be ideal in this context at all, even if he wrote “the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in the world, let alone Africa”.
FAFO
Reminds me of Robert Ruark’s quote: “They look at you like you owe them money.”
Why would you celebrate that?
At least he died doing what he loved....
“Some days you da windshield, some days you da bug.”
unprovoked attack
This dude was trying to shoot me, for no reason but to put my head on his wall!”
The buffalo
Why would NPR care?
“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Yeah, an *unprovoked attack* while he was intent on committing an unprovoked attack with likely a high power firearm, against a dumb animal with horns and hooves.
The irony......
Actually they are not so dumb. Once they know you are tracking them or are wounded, they will double back and ambush you. Leopards have been known to do the same thing. Peter Capstick “Death on the Dark Continent “ wrote of this trait. The author Theodore Waldeck(sp?) was treed by one when hunting for meat for his camp. His gun bearer drop his rifle and climbed a tree as did he. It was a great story. Cape Buffalo are not to be trifled with. IMO regards
Hmmm... Is it as sudden and unprovoked as when a hunter shoots a defenseless animal in the head just for a trophy? Just wondering.
Shooting a Cape Buffalo in the head is about as dumb as shooting it in the ass. You obviously don’t know what the H3ll you’re talking about.
According to a friend of mine from South Africa, it doesn’t take much to provoke a Cape Buffalo.
“...a sudden and unprovoked attack”
Maybe the buffalo didn’t want to be killed and have its head hung on a wall somewhere. That hardly counts as “unprovoked.”
Maybe the buffalo wanted to hang the guys head in the forest somewhere.
Sometimes you get the buffalo and sometimes you get buffaloed!
Big game hunting is a dangerous sport!
Mess with the bull, get the horns.
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