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.

[KCUnited]

It reminds me of that one Tom and Jerry where the dog crushes Tom against a wall then picks him up and plays him like an accordion.

[ChiliConCarnage]

That's too bad about the 4 elephants.

[tooge]

Originally Posted by Livinit

The world is a better place without him. He can join his alligator food friend in hell. It is time for him to suffer eternally for a short life of destructive behavior. His greed has finally caught up to him. His wife is a partner in his crimes and i couldnt care less about how she feels and dare say her sorrow is happiness for billions of human beings. His children are spawned from evil, so based on genetic research there is a high probability they could suffer the same lack of empathy he posessed. Therefore i will feel safer on this planet when his entire clan is exhausted. A vast majority of the haman race would probably agree that him and his supporters are part of the problem and do not exhibit any behaviour that might lend itself toward a more peaceful,less blood filled, less destructive existance for all humanity. The world is a better place without him and his supporters. that is just my opinion and i thank you for the the chance to express it as well as the chance to view other opinions on this subject.

damn man. Do you or have you ever eaten meat? Any meat? I'm not into trophy hunters killing for sport at all. I'm a hunter too. I shoot a deer or two every season, and my family eats the meat throughout the year. I suppose the difference for me is that I know I'm shooting it for food. I don't even shoot bucks, the meat isn't as good. I choose venison over beef because it is generally more healthy.

Saying the world is a better place with him dead is pretty jacked up. Not sure what or how you know about his wife and children, but I'm guessing it's not a better place for them. To say they should be dead also, wow. You are a troubled human being.

[Eleazar]

My condolences go out to the family of the elephant.

I'm not against hunting for sport, but animals that are endangered? No.

[Spott]

**** him. They should cut his head off and mount it as a trophy for the other elephants to look at.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You are circumventing the filter here, a no no. Or at least it used to be, not really sure anymore since the kids took over. Just spell it out.

Yeah it's against the rules, he's been warned. From now on report the posts guys. Makes it easier to clean up

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

You're so ****ing stupid you burned your apartment down with a BBQ and then asked for your deposit back. You act like your opinion matters...

I lived to hunt at one time. I remember when I was in my teens, I couldn't sleep the night before any given hunting season. In high school I was out every night and every weekend hunting deer, elk, ducks pheasants, turkey or grouse. Some of my best memories in life, reflecting back, were when I was out hunting with my Dad, or some buddies on hunting trips.

I had at least one Labrador at any given time that I trained to perfection. I haven't hunted for a few years now and probably won't again unless I go out for one more elk or decide to train one more Labrador for pheasants. I still refuse to sell any of my rifles or shotguns for that very reason.

As far as the big game hunting in another country, it's never been my thing but I certainly don't get all excited and proclaim "I'm glad a man died!" when I read about something like this. I may not agree with hunting elephants, but celebrating a mans death over something like this is bush league.

[ChiefsHawk]

libtard tears are the best

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

This has GOT to be a Far Side comic. There's no way Gary Larson hasn't drawn this one. If not, you may have stumbled across something amazing

I have a vague memory that he covered the trophy perspective, but he also covered the other part.

Gary Larson is my hero.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

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

Maybe you could start harvesting elephant sperm and help repopulate the elephant population? I'm sure your current career is a real boar.

[Demonpenz]

I told the elephants to put up a no soliciting sign.

[srvy]

Sounds to me the man guided Safari's. The professional Hunter tag in Africa is a person trained in tracking and dispatching animals usually hired by wildlife agencies to cull herds and dispatch rogue animals that prey on villages. They are also licensed to guide legal hunts. It is the sworn duty if said guided hunter misses a shot and wounds the animal he will do what ever necessary to track find and take the beast out. That takes balls no matter what you candyass snowflakes think.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

You're so ****ing stupid you burned your apartment down with a BBQ and then asked for your deposit back. You act like your opinion matters...

/thread

[srvy]

Required reading for clueless snowflakes would advise Death in the Long grass. You might get a idea what a Professional Hunter does and perhaps why and how dangerous and damaging some of these animals are. Africa isnt for the faint of heart.

[JakeF]

Originally Posted by Cornstock

I don't think a lot of people understand the concept of conservation when it comes to big game hunting or hunting in general. First of all, a distinction needs to be recognized between illegal poachers and lawful hunters. Permits are granted by the government, which can cost upwards of 50k for certain animals. Older animals are selected that have been cast out of their herds and are exceedingly aggressive posing a threat to the herd in general. They are past their mating prime and endanger younger bulls and cows that still have a long life of mating potential ahead of them. The proceeds are used for further conservation efforts to prevent poaching of the healthy members of the herds, and stimulate otherwise stagnant economies. There is no doubt that big game hunting preserves endangered species. Poachers, on the other hand, can burn.

Don't give a single ****. I hope every one of them pays the 50k and then get disemboweled by the very animals they hunt. Win/win.