So maybe it doesn’t work all that well among humans, but have scientists reeeeeally studied whether interspecies karma is in play when it comes to elephants? And possibly crocodiles? NO I DON’T THINK SO.
South African Hunter Crushed to Death By Elephant
A South African big game hunter died after being crushed by an elephant cow that had been shot on a game reserve in Zimbabwe at the weekend.
Theunis Botha, 51, was leading a hunt with clients when the group accidentally walked into the middle of a breeding herd of elephants at the Good Luck Farm near Hwange National Park late on Friday afternoon, Zimparks spokesman Mr Simukai Nyasha said.
Three of the elephant cows charged the hunters. Mr Botha fired a shot from his rifle but he was caught by surprise by a fourth cow that stormed them from the side, the Afrikaans news site Netwerk24 reported.
One of the hunters shot the elephant after she lifted Botha with her trunk. The elephant then collapsed on top of Mr Botha.
I haz questions. For starters: How, exactly, does one accidentally walk into the middle of a breeding herd of elephants?
Mr Botha was a highly regarded houndsman and frequently led leopard and lion hunting safaris with his pack of dogs.
I guess he won’t be bothering all the nice big kittehs any more. Which is, you know, A Good Thing, because their populations have been decimated by human activity to the point where they are all going fucking extinct.
Kittehs!
[image: Michael Nichols via National Geographic Big Cats Initiative]
The website of [Botha’s] 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.
Wow, what a brilliant innovator! Someone should award him a prize (posthumously, of course). Hey, want to impress me? Arm the prey animals with rifles, teach them to shoot, and then pull this Monteira stunt. So maybe that’s not practical. Ooh! Ooh! I Know! Gather together two teams of big game hunters, and pull it on each other. I’m routin’ for ya!
He would often travel to the United States to find wealthy customers to take part in trophy hunting in southern Africa.
Mr Botha’s body was taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital mortuary on Saturday…
…where one of only 1,200 remaining wild breeding female tigers ate it for lunch.
Okay I made that part up.
Condolences poured from hunters, who mourned the death of a “world-class houndsman” after Mrs Botha announced her husband’s death on their joint Facebook page.
Another pressing question: when will big game hunters go extinct? I guess the poor elephants will have to up their game. Fortunately, it appears they’re getting some assistance from the crocodiles:
Mr Botha was close friends with Scott van Zyl, 44, who was killed by crocodiles while hunting in Zimbabwe last month.
I’m #sorrynotsorry that I value the lives of wild elephants, big cats and even crocodiles much more than I value the lives of human big game hunters.
Now squirrels on the other hand…
#deathtosquirrels
Truly, you don’t have to arm the African big game with rifles. Just limit hunters to traditional spears. That would even things. And really would cut down on demand for ‘traditional” hunts. But no dogs. What sort of crap is that? How many dogs do they lose every year with this crap!?
You are the wind beneath my wings.
On a side note, I just brought my husband some cheap water pistols, for repelling the local fluffy-tailed tree rats. They nap on the back fence, and sit just out of reach and laugh at him. Those squirrels won’t be laughing next time…
Ahem!
Rest in peace, beautiful matriarch.At least you took one of the vermin with you.
I wonder how many big game hunters there would be if they had to prove their mettle by bagging another big game hunter first. The first contest would be Eric and Donald Jr.