Big Game Hunter Crushed By Elephant in Africa

Theunis Botha, 51, was the hunt leader of a group near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, USA Today reported. On Friday afternoon, the group stumbled into a group of breeding elephants, which then charged at the group. The hunters reportedly shot at the charging elephants, and one hunter shot an elephant that had picked up Botha. The elephant fell after being shot, landing on top of Botha and crushing him.

Botha was the owner of Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris and had five children, USA Today reported. The safari website said Botha did leopard and lion hunting with hounds and also pioneered “Monteira hunts” in South Africa, which use hounds to herd various game toward hunters, who then shoot the animals.

South African News 24 reported that Botha often traveled to the U.S. to find wealthy businessmen to go on game hunts. Botha’s wife Carika will travel to Zimbabwe on Monday to identify his body and bring it back to South Africa.

Botha’s good friend Scott van Zyl was killed by crocodiles in Zimbabwe last month. Van Zyl’s body was never found, but DNA from the stomach of one of the crocodiles matched his, and his boot was found in the stomach of another crocodile after it was killed, News24 reported. Van Zyl’s backpack was found near site where he disappeared.

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