{"id":1019,"date":"2026-08-27T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starloop.site\/?p=1019"},"modified":"2026-08-27T17:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:00:20","slug":"cape-buffalo-black-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starloop.site\/?p=1019","title":{"rendered":"Cape Buffalo: The \u201cBlack Death\u201d That Kills Around 200 People a Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Asher<\/p>\n

Asher Watkins\/Facebook<\/span>Asher Watkins was killed when a Cape buffalo charged at him during a hunting trip in South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

An American hunter has died after the Cape buffalo he was tracking in South Africa suddenly charged at him. The 52-year-old real estate executive, Asher Watkins, was killed while on a hunting expedition with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris. According to the company, Watkins was fatally injured by a Cape buffalo that he was pursuing in hopes of making it his next big game trophy.<\/p>\n

It is not uncommon for Cape buffaloes to charge at, injure, or even kill hunters. The fearsome creatures have even earned an equally terrifying nickname: \u201cblack death.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Death Of Asher Watkins On A South African Hunting Expedition<\/h2>\n

Asher Watkins was a managing partner for Watkins Ranch Group, a real estate company that specializes in selling ranches and recreational properties. He was an avid hunter who often posted photos on social media of the animals he killed, from mule deer to mountain lions.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, August 3, Watkins headed out on a hunting trip in South Africa\u2019s Limpopo Province with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris. As Watkins, one of the company\u2019s professional hunters, and a tracker were pursuing a Cape buffalo, it suddenly turned on them and charged.<\/p>\n

\"Cape<\/p>\n

Ikiwaner\/Wikimedia Commons<\/span>Cape buffaloes can weigh up to 2,000 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In a\u00a0statement on their website, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris wrote, \u201cAsher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking.\u201d The company also noted, \u201c[W]e are cooperating fully with all the relevant authorities to ensure all procedures are followed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watkins\u2019 mother, stepfather, and brother were reportedly waiting in a lodge for him to return from his hunt when the attack occurred. He also left behind a daughter, Savannah.<\/p>\n

The Danger Of Hunting Cape Buffaloes<\/h2>\n

Coenraad Vermaak Safaris\u2019 website notes the particular perils that come with hunting Cape buffaloes, stating, \u201cNo species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation\u2026 [T]he buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa.\u201d The site also warns that hunters should \u201cprepare for the worst\u201d when in the presence of a wounded buffalo.<\/p>\n

Adult males can grow to weigh 2,000 pounds, and they can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They are reportedly responsible for as many as 200 deaths each year.<\/p>\n

\"Cape<\/p>\n

Bernard Dupont\/Wikimedia Commons<\/span>Cape buffaloes are popular among trophy hunters, but they can be dangerous to pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Indeed, a buffalo killed another hunter in the Limpopo Province in 2018. A hunting party had just shot one buffalo and was loading its carcass onto their vehicle when another member of its herd charged at\u00a0Claude Kleynhans\u00a0and fatally gored him.<\/p>\n

A year prior, a\u00a0hunter in Zimbabwe\u00a0died when an elephant fell on top of him. These hunting accidents aren\u2019t limited to Africa, either. Just this year, a hunter in Virginia was\u00a0killed by a bear\u00a0toppling from a tree.<\/p>\n

This latest incident in South Africa is yet another grisly case of a hunter becoming the hunted.<\/p>\n

\n

After reading about the death of big game hunter Asher Watkins, learn about\u00a015 animals that got revenge\u00a0on poachers. Then, discover the\u00a0deadliest animals you don\u2019t know about.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Asher Watkins\/FacebookAsher Watkins was killed when a Cape buffalo charged at him during a hunting trip in South Africa. An American hunter has died after […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home"],"yoast_head":"\nCape Buffalo: Why It\u2019s Called the \u201cBlack Death<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover why the Cape buffalo is known as Africa\u2019s \u201cBlack Death,\u201d including its incredible strength, unpredictable behavior, and deadly reputation\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/starloop.site\/?p=1019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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