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.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

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.

exactly this. I'm not really a hunter, but these legal permits are given for animals that would likely otherwise be culled due to behavior, age or disease. The high fees fund conservation, and these programs are highly supported by the rangers.

[Ming the Merciless]

[Trent Green GOAT]

Some of you need to ask your wives if you can borrow a maxipad, you're bleeding everywhere.

It's an elephant for **** sake.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by Cornstock

It's no different with hunting whitetail or fishing. You pay for your tag/license, and the proceeds go to the parks to further their enjoyment for future generations.

It's completly different. When I shoot a deer or catch a fish, my intension is to eat it. Trophy hunters do it for "sport". They should make up for the lack of penis size by buying a sports car or boat. Glad the ****er's dead

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

It's completly different. When I shoot a deer or catch a fish, my intension is to eat it. Trophy hunters do it for "sport". They should make up for the lack of penis size by buying a sports car or boat. Glad the ****er's dead

Don't worry , his son lives on and has vowed revenge on Elephants for killing his Dad. there will be a whole herd dead now.

[In58men]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

1) you live in ****ign bakersfield

2) i think youre the dumbass who claimed he could taste 'gas' on his steak when broiled in a gas oven

3) you burned your shitty apartment down with a bbq (totally your fault)

4) then you cried for your deposit back LOL


Look at these facts homey-then ask yourself ---
Maybe youre not as smart as you think you are??? Maybe you should ****ign shut your mouth and think for a few moments longer next time you feel the need to spout off your big ****ing mouth...

"I don't agree with you so im glad you are dead" is your genious ****ign thought?

GTFO of here man

dude had a family and we are talking about hunting / conservation etc....even if you disagree ...Do you not enjoy lots of dead animals in your life? ****ing hgypocrite....youre cool with dead animals as long as they are on your BBQ

You wasted the dead animal that you burned your apartment down cooking...should you die?

JFC just keep your mouth shut.

1. Who cares where I ****ing live, how's that relevant?

2. Nothing was said about a gas oven you ****ing moron. It was a propane grill. I stated that I tasted the gas before after grilling on my food. Which is likely if the fuel air mixture is being set wrong, or it being plugged by dirt, bugs blocking the air intakes. Maybe that's what happened?

3. I placed hot pans on wood that smoldered over a 4 hour time period. You say it like the grill caught on fire, stop exaggerating Mr. Firefighter of the year.

4. That was an obvious joke to lighten up the mood you dipshit. You're really that ****ing stupid to figure that out?

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Don't worry , his son lives on and has vowed revenge on Elephants for killing his Dad. there will be a whole herd dead now.

Do you think you've honed your skills into ninja status on swine enough that you'd able to beat off an elephant for a sample?

Are you that much of a badass Hogfarmer?

[Spott]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

JFC just keep your mouth shut.

1. Who cares where I ****ing live, how's that relevant?

2. Nothing was said about a gas oven you ****ing moron. It was a propane grill. I stated that I tasted the gas before after grilling on my food. Which is likely if the fuel air mixture is being set wrong, or it being plugged by dirt, bugs blocking the air intakes. Maybe that's what happened?

3. I placed hot pans on wood that smoldered over a 4 hour time period. You say it like the grill caught on fire, stop exaggerating Mr. Firefighter of the year.

4. That was an obvious joke to lighten up the mood you dipshit. You're really that ****ing stupid to figure that out?

Did you get the deposit back?

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

JFC just keep your mouth shut.

1. Who cares where I ****ing live, how's that relevant?

2. Nothing was said about a gas oven you ****ing moron. It was a propane grill. I stated that I tasted the gas before after grilling on my food. Which is likely if the fuel air mixture is being set wrong, or it being plugged by dirt, bugs blocking the air intakes. Maybe that's what happened?

3. I placed hot pans on wood that smoldered over a 4 hour time period. You say it like the grill caught on fire, stop exaggerating Mr. Firefighter of the year.

4. That was an obvious joke to lighten up the mood you dipshit. You're really that ****ing stupid to figure that out?

1) no one smart would choose to live in bakersfield for years

2) dont make me dig the thread up, you said you could 'taste gas' which is stupid. Propane is even more odorless and tasteless than LP. Dont triple down on your stupidity.

3) yes, you are a ****ign moron, heat plus wood = fire..dont need to be a firefighter to understand that

4) yes, everything you say is a joke, yet I am super serious and not joking at all to respond to your joke. ****ing moron. LOL . Youre the ONLY one here ****ign around and joking right?

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Trent Green GOAT

Some of you need to ask your wives if you can borrow a maxipad, you're bleeding everywhere.

It's an elephant for **** sake.

How can you be this dumb

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

How can you be this dumb

actually thats probably the smartest comment up in this bitch

[Trent Green GOAT]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

How can you be this dumb

Explain please.

Otherwise you just acting all emotional, because he hunts an animal you like. The "outrage" has everything to do with what animal he shot and not that it's a trophy.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

We know, and he chose to do this for the trophies and money, nothing more, nothing less.

He was guiding a legal hunt dipshit a hunting party. From what I can tell is THE ANIMAL ATTACKED THAT PARTY AND HE DID HIS JOB TO TRY TO PROTECT THEM AND LOST HIS LIFE. You can't hunt Africa alone you must have a Licensed professional hunter with you. That dead animal will feed a nearby village for months. Snowflakes dont understand nature is a ****ing bastard we are the top of the chain because we made tools to give us the upper hand. Farmers settling into wild animal habitat has made it so the food source cant sustain the herd so you have legal hunting.

[SBInfinity]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

Trophy? You have no idea what that means. It means that you swallowed your fear, that you ignored your pain, that you ignored the weather, that you pitted what God gave you (your brains - signified in your rifle) against that animal's nose and hide and muscle and claws and teeth. And that you won.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by srvy

we are the top of the chain because we made tools to give us the upper hand.

I can assure you...that YOU and none of the other pseudo-outdoorsmen created anything resembling a weapon. They BOUGHT weapons invented by smarter people than themselves...without their ingenuity, you would be eaten. That is very loose definition of the word "we"...they didn't do anything to prove their superiority. There is a major disconnect...in the honesty of the actual act of modern hunting.

So you arent the top of the food chain....quit pretending your individual resourcefulness out "natured" the animal. Nothing says "rugged" like shooting an unsuspecting animal with bullets bought at Walmart...then sleeping in a tent bought a few isles down.