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.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Rooster

Necrophilia?

Well, just remember folks, dead elephants don't say no.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by srvy

I hunt with a bow and arrow that I made ya insignificant little twit. And the bullshit you just wrote above tells me you know 0 about hunting. A bear or mountain lion takes a young child just walking with her parents on a hiking trail. Does the make that bear a fat ass loser?

Did you make the drawstring from the sinews of a buffalo that you killed? That's the only way it counts.

[lewdog]

We own guns. The wife and FIL like to hunt. I am ok with killing most animals, as long as they aren't endangered. I understand killing some of these large animals for conservation purposes too. If there's too many in one area and they are destroying things (natural habitat, too close to humans or over-population), sometimes you gotta thin the herd. Nothing wrong with that.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

Likewise, we are born with brains and hands that can create entire civilizations and systems of government and economy, and we learn everything from the experiences of older, more experienced people.

So, yes, we absolutely can label ourselves dominant to the animals we hunt.

There is the saying that our civilization was truly built by 1000 great men...the cornerstones of real innovation and progress. Everyone else is just parasitic...myself included.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by lewdog

We own guns. The wife and FIL like to hunt. I am ok with killing most animals, as long as they aren't endangered. I understand killing some of these large animals for conservation purposes too. If there's too many in one area and they are destroying things (natural habitat, too close to humans or over-population), sometimes you gotta thin the herd. Nothing wrong with that.

No man , there are no more Circus's anymore. The elephants role on earth is over. Anyway they destroy trees. I like trees . birds sit in trees so I can shoot them more easily. All elephants need to die.

[tarheel23]

I am so sick of the outrage over such stupid shit. It was a freaking elephant that was being hunted legally. Anyone that compares a human life to that of an animal is a fool. Get a life.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by tarheel23

I am so sick of the outrage over such stupid shit. It was a freaking elephant that was being hunted legally. Anyone that compares a human life to that of an animal is a fool. Get a life.

That's technically filter evasion. I fixed it, just type it out next time

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Did you make the drawstring from the sinews of a buffalo that you killed? That's the only way it counts.

nope not that traditional. I also dont flint nap and make broad heads. I have read how to do it and gave it a whirl but I wouldn't risk a bad kill due to the arrowhead. I am fine with purchased Zwikeys I do sharpen them myself.

[Iowanian]

I guess you snowflakes are going to be upset when I go on my next monkey hunt. I like to fill bananas full of binary powder and shoot the fruit with .22LR during the second bite

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Did you make the drawstring from the sinews of a buffalo that you killed? That's the only way it counts.

I have six spools of Dacron bowstring in multi color that I Flemish twist into a bowstring and a serving thread and winder for the knocking area for the arrow.

[In58men]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I guess you snowflakes are going to be upset when I go on my next monkey hunt. I like to fill bananas full of binary powder and shoot the fruit with .22LR during the second bite

You must have some real insecurity issues. Are you trying to justify your manly ego? Not sure what you get out of killing a ****ing monkey.

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

You must have some real insecurity issues. Are you trying to justify your manly ego? Not sure what you get out of killing a ****ing monkey.

That's nothing. Sometimes I like to catch sleeping kangaroos, jump into their pouch and choke them out.

Who said anything about killing A monkey. Not just any monkey, my business is that I usually only go after the cute ones......and buddy, business is good

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

You must have some real insecurity issues. Are you trying to justify your manly ego? Not sure what you get out of killing a ****ing monkey.

That monkey is Big foot

[Iowanian]

Inmen....do you know how much longer baby seals are on the ice flows?

[Cornstock]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

His argument reminds me of people who try to tear down wealthy people who donate to charities, on the grounds that they do so only for self-serving tax purposes.

The response to both is, so what? Conservation and charity are still happening, regardless of anyone's intention.

Precisely, it's the exact same. There seems to be a prevailing liberal philosophy that any self indulgence or act that is beneficial to the individual (be it tax breaks, satisfaction/pride of accomplishment , or simply feeling good for giving) is evil, and the only true good is pure altruism. But even in altruism, satisfaction can be gained.

They will only be satisfied when benefit is obtained for others by forceable means that is a detriment to the person who is having their beneficial good stripped of them.

A sadistic and unreasonable concept of fairness. That by being in a position wealth or power you somehow deserve to be unmeritously stripped of that position.