New details have emerged regarding the US millionaire who traveled to South Africa to hunt a buffalo that ultimately killed him.
Multi-millionaire ranch real estate executive Asher Watkins, reported as being either 52 or 59 in different outlets, was on an expedition with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CV Safaris) on August 3 when the fatal encounter happened, per the Daily Mail.
Watkins, along with a professional hunter and a skilled tracker, had been following a bull weighing over a ton when the animal suddenly charged, as reported by Metro.
According to CV Safaris, the buffalo was “unwounded and unprovoked” when it launched the attack, covering ground at roughly 35 mph before slamming into Watkins.
The impact — horns first — inflicted catastrophic injuries to his stomach and ribs, killing him almost instantly.
“Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo,” the safari company said in a statement. “This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones.”
The professional hunter fired a single shot that killed the buffalo seconds later, but it was too late to save Watkins. Emergency responders confirmed he was “beyond help except to load his body into the ambulance,” describing the injuries as unsurvivable, per the Daily Mail.
Watkins’ mother, Gwen, stepfather, Tony, and brother, Amon, were at the safari lodge when news of his death reached them.
The Texas businessman, who made his fortune selling luxury ranches valued up to $30 million, had arrived in South Africa just days earlier via private plane.
On his first day, he hunted a waterbuck; the second day was meant to target the Cape buffalo — a prime male of the species can command a hunting fee of around $10,000.
Watkins’ ex-wife, Courtney, with whom he shared custody of their 16-year-old daughter Savannah, posted a heartfelt tribute before taking it down after it drew a wave of online trolling from people who celebrated the buffalo’s brief “victory.”
“This photo is from another time, another chapter of our lives — but it’s one that will always be a part of our daughter’s story,” Courtney wrote, per the Guardian.
“On Sunday, August 3, Savannah’s father, Asher Watkins, died suddenly in a tragic accident involving a Cape buffalo while on a hunting trip in South Africa. It’s a reality that’s still hard to put into words. Our hearts are heavy as we navigate the days ahead, especially for Savannah as she grieves her dad.”
She continued: “We’ve been in a state of shock and heartbreak ever since, trying to process not just the loss, but the complexity that comes with it. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, or simply held us in your thoughts. Your love has truly carried us through the hardest few days of our lives.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18.”
Friends say Savannah, who was “inseparable” from her father, has been devastated. “Nobody could love a daughter more than he did,” one family friend shared.
While some online mourned both Watkins and the buffalo, others — opposed to trophy hunting — flooded his social media with messages calling his death “karma” and sharing memes mocking him.
Cape buffalo, known as “The Black Death,” are among Africa’s “Big Five” most dangerous animals, responsible for roughly 200 human deaths each year.
Weighing up to 1.5 tons, stretching over 11 feet long, and sporting horn tips up to four feet apart, they are unpredictable, aggressive, and capable of absorbing multiple bullets before going down.
The hunt was organized by CVS, whose website warns: “No species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation than a Cape buffalo… Buffalo are known to charge unprovoked so prepare for the worst.”
South African police have opened an inquest into Watkins’ death.