Texas Hunter Fatally Charged by Cape Buffalo in South Africa
A tragic incident unfolded in South Africa’s Limpopo province when Texas ranch trader and avid trophy hunter, 52-year-old Asher Watkins, lost his life during a guided hunting safari. Watkins had traveled to the region in pursuit of one of Africa’s most formidable creatures — the Cape buffalo, an animal weighing well over a ton and notorious for its fierce and unpredictable nature.
On August 3, while tracking a 1.3-ton Cape buffalo alongside a professional hunter and a local tracker, events took a sudden and devastating turn. The animal, which had not been wounded, reportedly ambushed the group. In a split second, the hunter became the hunted. The buffalo charged with tremendous force, delivering a fatal blow before anyone could intervene.
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According to Hans Vermaak of CV Safaris, who released a statement on the company’s website, Watkins was “fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack.” Vermaak described the experience as “deeply traumatic” for everyone present, noting that fellow safari members and Watkins’ family — some of whom were with him in South Africa — were left “understandably shaken.”
The company extended heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, especially his mother Gwen, his daughter Savannah, his brother Amon, and his stepfather Tony. Vermaak emphasized that the Watkins family were long-standing friends of the safari company and that every effort was being made to support them during this painful time.
The Cape buffalo’s fate remains uncertain, but its reputation is well-documented. Often referred to as “the Black Death” among hunters, the species is known to cause multiple fatalities each year. With few natural predators besides humans and lions, they have evolved into formidable defenders of their territory, capable of turning a hunt into a deadly encounter within seconds.
Watkins himself was no stranger to the outdoors. As the managing partner of Watkins Ranch Group, he built a career around luxury ranch and land sales while spending much of his life in rugged, open landscapes. His social media pages were filled with images of him alongside game he had hunted — from deer and waterfowl to mountain lions. Friends described him as a devoted father and an experienced outdoorsman who found joy in the challenges of nature.
The incident has reignited conversations around the dangers and ethics of big game hunting. While some see such safaris as a test of skill and bravery, others question the risks — not only to the animals but to the hunters themselves. In this case, what began as a pursuit of a prized trophy ended with an unthinkable reversal, a reminder that in the wild, the balance between predator and prey can shift in an instant.
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