In memoriam - Theunis Botha

[mdwest]

RIP Theunis.

 

[Guépard]

Thoughts and prayers for the family.

 

[dobber]

prayers to the family

 

[bilmcc]

Condolences to the family and the community.

 

[CAustin]

My prayers to the family, it was shattering to see the message on my phone this morning. Theunis was a true gentlemen, with a love for his family , nature and his hounds. The hunting industry has lost a true legend.

Herd of elephant charged them.

Thank you Simon for sharing how this happened to the poor man!
Prayers for his family.

 

[Nyati]

Sad news RIP.

 

[Wallnutt]

I helped Scott and Theunis in a shared booth at SCI this year. We spent the week sharing fellowship and stories. First Scott and now Theunis. I am just stunned that these two are gone now. Tomorrow is not promised fellas.......Sad.

 

[Shootist43]

My prayers and condolences to the family as well. Wild animals are unpredictable, from the tragic events that transpired in the past month we must all learn to be on our guard when amongst them.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

I heard about this here in India at lunch. There were a couple South Africans (not in the hunting industry or hunters themselves) mentioning a person who they said was trampled by en elephant in Zim. As I am headed there for elephant in two days, I immediately perked up. They showed me his picture and gave me his name. No details on a google search and I don't want to start rumors or spread them, but it was shocking how quickly word spreads.

Thoughts and prayers for the family.

Prayers for this gentleman and wishing you a safe journey in Zim Mike.

 

[Brent in Az]

Best of wishes to the family!

 

[Kowas Adventure Safaris]

Sad to report the passing of Theunis Botha. His wife confirmed on their FB page he died in a hunting accident in Zim. There are no further details of the circumstances at this time. I hunted with Theunis in SA and Botswana. He was an excellent PH and world-class houndsman. Thoughts and prayers for Carike and the children.

RIP. Prayers with the family, friends and loved ones.

 

[Shannon1966]

My son and I had the absolute pleasure of hunting with Theunis last year in ZIM. The stories he told and his hearty laughter made for stories we still talk about. Sorry to hear of this tragic accident. Condolences to the family and friends.

 

[johnnyblues]

My condolences to his family and friends. Just reminds us of just how dangerous it can be hunting wild animals. Theses professionals put their life on the line every time they go afield . To all be safe and say a prayer for this man.

 

[cls]

My prayers and condolences as well. Life is short, live it well my friends.

 

[Boela]

Just came across this news report.

http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/hunter-dies-after-shot-elephant-falls-on-him-20170521


Hunter dies after elephant falls on him
Elise Tempelhoff | Netwerk24

Johannesburg - A professional big game hunter from Tzaneen, Theunis Botha, 51, died on Friday afternoon during a hunt in Gwai, in Zimbabwe, when a member of his group fired at a storming elephant cow and the animal fell on him.

A source who didn’t want to be named told Netwerk24 that a group of hunters had gone for a walk on Friday afternoon when they suddenly came across a breeding herd of elephants.

Three elephant cows stormed the hunters and Botha shot at them. A fourth cow stormed them from the side and one of the hunters shot her after she’d lifted Botha with her trunk. The shot was fatal and as the cow collapsed, she fell on Botha.

Botha is survived by his wife Carika and their five children.

According to The Telegraph, Botha was a highly regarded houndsman and frequently led leopard and lion hunting safaris with his pack of dogs.

The website of his company Game Hounds Safaris says he pioneered traditional European-style “Monteria hunts” in southern Africa.

In Monteira hunts large packs of dogs are used to drive deer and boar towards hunters who then open fire on the animals.

Botha was a specialist at hunting leopards with his big game hounds.

Netwerk24 has learnt that Botha was a well-known hunter in Zimbabwe and often travelled to the US to recruit wealthy Americans for trophy hunting in Southern Africa.

Carika will reportedly travel to Zimbabwe on Monday to identify her husband’s body and to bring it back to South Africa. She could not be reached by phone on Sunday morning.

Botha was a good friend of Scott van Zyl's who was killed by crocodiles in Zimbabwe last month. Van Zyl, 44, was on a hunt at the Chikwaraka camp in Zimbabwe, when he disappeared on April 7.

His backpack was found on the banks of the Limpopo River and two crocodiles were shot during the extensive search for Van Zyl. DNA tests were done on samples taken of the crocodiles’ stomach contents, and it matched his.

Part of a Cat boot, similar to that which Van Zyl was wearing when he disappeared, was found in the stomach of a third crocodile which was shot on April 14.

 

[PARA45]

My prayers and condolences to the family. Tragic and sad news.

 

[Yaseen]

What a tragedy. R I P

 

[Victor C. Yin]

I spent many memorable times with Theunis, he was a great friend, wonderful person. I will miss him greatly. It is a sad day. My condolences to Carike and the family.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I am so sorry to hear this. I never hunted with him but had the upmost respect for him as I had read numerous reports or articles regarding his leopard hunts with hounds. Truly a legend. My prayers are with the family. RIP.

 

[brettp]

Very sad. My condolences and prayers to the family.