Big game hunter crushed to death

[Al Bundy]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...nter--10469997

A professional big game hunter is dead after he was crushed by a wounded elephant as it was fatally shot.

Theunis Botha, 51, was on a hunt in Gwai, Zimbabwe, when his gro[/URL]up was charged by four breeding elephants.

A female elephant picked up Botha in her trunk after he fired at the others and collapsed on top of him - crushing him to death - after she was shot by another hunter.

Heartbroken friends described the married father-of-five as a "legend", while opponents of big game hunting offered little sympathy following his passing.


Theunis Botha was killed by an elephant when he was on a hunt in Zimbabwe (Photo: Facebook)

Botha often took wealthy foreigners on hunts for leopards and other animals (Photo: Theunis Botha/Youtube)

Botha and two other men pose with the giant tusks of an elephant
Botha, from the South African town of Tzaneen, and the rest of the group were out for a walk on Friday afternoon when they came across the herd.

A source told Netwerk24 that Botha shot at three elephant cows as they stormed the hunters.

A fourth cow stormed from the side, lifted Botha with her trunk and was fatally shot by another hunter. The elephant then collapsed onto Botha.


Elephants and lions were among the animals hunted during Botha's safaris

Botha came from a family of cattle ranchers and big game hunters

Botha and another man pose with a crocodile that was killed during a hunt
The South African specialised in big game safaris and often took wealthy foreigners on hunts for lions, leopards and other animals after founding his own company in the 1980s.

Friends paid tribute to him on Facebook, where one wrote: "RIP Theunis Botha. Our heartfelt condolences to Carike and family. He was a great man! So sad!"


Botha's company was called Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris and Hounds

One of Botha's friends (not pictured) was recently killed by a crocodile during a hunt

Another friend added: "A legend has fallen but will never be forgotten... It's with a sad heart that we say goodbye to you Oom Theunis Botha. Our deepest condolences to the family. May God be with you all in this difficult time."

Critics of big game hunting responded with little sympathy.

One person wrote: "You should be crying for the innocent elephant that was senselessly murdered not this idiot hunter who deserved what he got."

Heartbroken friends described Botha as a "legend" of big game hunting (Photo: Facebook)

The married father-of-five ran his own safari company out of South Africa (Photo: Theunis Botha/Youtube)
Botha's friend, Scott van Zyl, 44, was killed by crocodiles during a hunt in Zimbabwe last month, Netwerk24 reported.

Botha's company, called Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris and Hounds, as he was known to hunt with dogs, is a family operation run with his wife Carike.

In 1878 his ancestors moved into a wild and rugged region of South Africa, becoming cattle ranchers and hunters, the firm's website states.

It adds: "In the year of ’66 Theunis became the latest addition to his family, and was privileged to be raised in the ways of the bush and its people."

He served in the South African infantry during the Angolan War and left the Army after reaching the rank of sergeant.

After returning home he started offering hunting safaris in 1989 to pay for his studies, and completed a degree in psychology and anthropology in 1991.

His first client, Bill Reynolds, from the US state of Montana, hunted a leopard on the family's game ranch bordering Kruger National Park after his hounds picked up the animal's scent, the website states.

It added that Botha pioneered traditional European-style Monteria hunts, where game are driven with dogs, in South Africa.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

That depends on the place. There are places where elephants are endangered. And there are places where management practices supporting here growth promote a herd size above what the land can support. It's like saying "there are no wolves in Colorado so we shouldn't allow them wolf hunting in Alaska,".

In the areas where there are too many elephants, elephants devastate the crops and land of local people and excess elephants need to be culled (killed). These practices have occurred over the last 100 years.

Again, we can disagree about the efficacy of these policies or what is the best policy, but there's a huge chasm between reasonable disagreement/reasoned discussion and wishing someone dead because they disagree with particular game management practices.

Yeah, I'm not dancing on anyone's grave.

[kjwood75nro]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Always amazed by the rationalization it must take to shoot a leopard (pics in article)...with a gun you didn't invent, with ammunition you didn't manufacture, using gunpowder you dont know how to make, driving a jeep you bought and consider yourself a sportsman. How can you look what you've done and not feel like a complete loser. It's like beating up a handicapped child.

That cat would own that fat f.uck in 5 seconds on a level playing field.

Taking joy is killing beautiful animals is psychotic. It's one thing to kill to survive..it's another to collect trophies for a sagging ego.

Nature took care of this a-hole.

Are you implying that fighting handicapped children is a comparable threat as leopards are to modern hunters?

I know the ****ers bite and can be uncharacteristically strong, but be realistic.

[kjwood75nro]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I wonder if there isn't a way to raise as much cash to support conservation another way? As an evolutionist, I don't think it is hypocritical at all to protect some animals more than others based on their cognitive development. Eat dumb cows. Preserve smart and emotionally developed elephants.

Conservation doesn't account for the emotional value that humans place on animals. Same goes for evolution.

As an "evolutionist," you should already know that.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

Conservation doesn't account for the emotional value that humans place on animals. Same goes for evolution.

As an "evolutionist," you should already know that.

As an evolutionist I value human life above animal life because of our capacity for thought and emotion. Likewise I value the life of an elephant more than I do a mayfly, or a dolphin more than I do a squirrel or a gorilla more than a goat or a squirrel more than an E. coli.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

He hunted animals in accord with the law. He did not hurt another human being. He complied with what biologists said would help the herd, even if you have never seen the herd, don't understand biology and have no direct evidence about what happened.

And you are glad he's dead.

What a piece of shit. I don't care if you agree or disagree. But rejoicing in someone's death when: 1) you've never met them; 2) they did you no harm, and 3) they did no people any harm, is really twisted. Rejoice when a serial killer dies? Fine. Rejoice when at the death of someone whose philosophy killed many like Marx or Mao, okay. I can understand. But to rejoice at the death of someone who does something completely legal but that you disagree with ... that's twisted.

You apparently have never lived in a place where wildlife can truly kill you, nor do you appear to understand how humans actually fit into the natural universe. You come live in remote Alaska for a couple of years and face some brown bears. Then tell me about hunting and killing animals. Until then, you don't know shit and you discredit yourself every time you open your mouth.

First off...this jack-**** wasnt about living in Alaska and killing bears to protect himself. I know EXACTLY how humans fit in the natural scope of the universe...and it inst as impressive or idealistic as you seem to think...Human laws and universal laws are far from compatible. He has less value than an elephant...it doesn't kill to impress it's sadistic, materialistic friends. It kills out of necessity. It lives in unconvoluted harmony with the elements...something Buddhist monks spend their whole lives trying to achieve. This dude flew to Africa with the sole purpose of destroying for pleasure and trophy collection..a phenomenon that is uniquely human. If there is one species that is at odds with the flow of nature...it is us. We destroy shit for the sake of destroying it....or on a deeper, esoteric level, we despise god.

Natural law spoke when the elephant crushed his shallow ass. He invited his own demise...there is a beauty in that.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

Are you implying that fighting handicapped children is a comparable threat as leopards are to modern hunters?

Umm...I dont really think leopards are a threat to modern hunters... much in the way handicapped kids arent likely to start a bar fight.

[kjwood75nro]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Umm...I dont really think leopards are a threat to modern hunters... much in the way handicapped kids arent likely to start a bar fight.

All bar fights are started by handicapped kids.

Think about it...

[kjwood75nro]

Originally Posted by cdcox

As an evolutionist I value human life above animal life because of our capacity for thought and emotion. Likewise I value the life of an elephant more than I do a mayfly, or a dolphin more than I do a squirrel or a gorilla more than a goat or a squirrel more than an E. coli.

That's being a humanist.

Evolutionist is something else entirely.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

All bar fights are started by handicapped kids.

Think about it...

There is some truth there...leopards dont pick bar fights.

[RobBlake]

Frozen must be a lawyer. You an tell he loves s having debates lol respect

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Ringling Bros. had their last circus yesterday. Elephants have no moar use . Might as well kill them all.

[Demonpenz]

Trying to kill two different animals at once? That's what you get trying to Multi-Tusk

[splatbass]

I'm not against hunting. But I am against TROPHY hunting, hunting just for a trophy. He killed an amazing and rare animal just for the sake of stroking his ego and bragging rights. IMO that is morally reprehensible. Not at all the same as killing a (more than abundant) deer for food, or eating a stupid ****ing cow. And the whole conservation idea some of you are pushing is NOT the reason he killed the elephant. None of those guys give a hoot about the animals. They kill for the thrill of killing a rare and majestic animal, and for their enormous egos. Not at all justifiable.

And the whole "their government does it for conservation" is just bullshit. Their governments do it for MONEY. They are poor and corrupt countries.

[frozenchief]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

First off...this jack-f.ck wasnt about living in Alaska and killing bears to protect himself. I know EXACTLY how humans fit in the natural scope of the universe...and it inst as impressive or idealistic as you seem to think...Human laws and universal laws are far from compatible. He has less value than an elephant...it doesn't kill to impress it's sadistic, materialistic friends. It kills out of necessity. It lives in unconvoluted harmony with the elements...something Buddhist monks spend their whole lives trying to achieve. This dude flew to Africa with the sole purpose of destroying for pleasure and trophy collection..a phenomenon that is uniquely human. If there is one species that is at odds with the flow of nature...it is us. We destroy shit for the sake of destroying it....or on a deeper, esoteric level, we despise god.

Natural law spoke when the elephant crushed his shallow ass. He invited his own demise...there is a beauty in that.

It isn't about protecting oneself. It is about knowing your place in nature. You say that killing for pleasure is uniquely human. This shows your ignorance. I've seen wolves kill caribou and moose and keave them to rot. Or just eat a tongue or asshole. Then leave the rest. Chimpanzees wage wars on other apes. Gorillas and baboons pluck birds. Cats, large and small, toy with their prey. You might have heard the phrase "cat and mouse". Animals kill other animals in absolutely cruel ways. Live in Alaska and you quickly realize nature is not a Disney movie and animals do not respond simply for your philosophical comfort in middle class America.

You say human and universal laws can be incompatible. Fair enough. My point is not that human laws point out mortality. Rather, game laws are designed to maximize the numbers of particular species. If he's lawfully hunting elephants, it means that game biologists determined that removing a certain number of elephants benefits that species. And the funds he paid to do that further benefit the species. Again, we can reasonably disagree whether such policies are ben facial or not. We can reasonably disagree about the best way to promote elephant herds. But it is a twisted **** that is glad a person dies simply because of disagreement about game management principles.

You say there is beauty in the elephant kill g this guy. No beauty but I admit I respect this guy for facing his mortality and risking death much like I admire a mountain climber who dies. But I don't rejoice in his death.

Check out Reddit.com/r/natureismetal

Then tell me how wonderful animals are to each other. Tell me how humans are different. Nature is red in tooth and claw. It isn't a bunch of bundle of sticks animals singing Hakuna Matata. And I respect someone with the balls to confront their own mortality vis a vis facing the real prospect of death while hunting large game far more than someone whose idea of danger is driving home from work every day.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

It isn't about protecting oneself. It is about knowing your place in nature. You say that killing for pleasure is uniquely human. This shows your ignorance. I've seen wolves kill caribou and moose and keave them to rot. Or just eat a tongue or asshole. Then leave the rest.

We are supposed to be smarter than wolves. Some of us are anyway.