Asher Watkins, a hunter from Texas, tragically lost his life while on a hunting safari in Limpopo Province, South Africa. This violent act happened on Sunday. It was on such an excursion, arranged by Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the region’s oldest and longest-running hunting safari company.
On this particular occasion, Watkins had been tracking a buffalo when the animal unexpectedly turned on him. CVS called it a “sudden and unprovoked attack” that led to Watkins’ cause of death. Hans Vermaak, leader of CVS, corroborated the incident’s details. He assured us that when Watkins was flown in, they had one of their professional hunters and their own tracker with him at the time.
The safari company refused to comment on whether the buffalo responsible for the attack was later euthanized. Team member at CVS, Sarah Vermaak, said “We don’t intend to go into any more detail about this horrible accident. They appreciate your understanding and respect for the family’s privacy and the sensitivity of this situation.
Watkins’ death has led to a new conversation around trophy hunting. This practice currently faces increasing criticism from wildlife advocacy organizations. We Will Not Be Silenced, a coalition against trophy hunting, deeply mourned Watkins’ passing. For these reasons and more, they went after him with a vengeance.
“If Asher Watkins had not come to our country to steal the lives of South African wildlife, he would still be alive and his family and friends would not be heartbroken right now,” – We Will Not Be Silenced about Hunters.
CVS has been regularly attacked by the Humane Society of the United States and other wildlife advocates denouncing trophy hunting as a sadistic hobby. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spoke up on their behalf. They claimed that this new form of hunting reduces vibrant, feeling lives to trivial prizes for photo ops.
“This didn’t have to happen. Trophy hunting is a cruel pastime that turns sentient beings into targets, all for a grotesque photo,” – PETA.
Unfortunately, this incident is another tragic reminder of history. In 2018, a buffalo killed another big game hunter in Limpopo Province while on the hunt. As the ethics of trophy hunting seeps into international discussions, the debate deepens. Now the South African authorities find themselves facing lawsuits and public outcry from animal rights groups over these practices.
