Big game hunting is a serious issue that divides opinion amongst many people across the world, but for one eager hunter the lure of the wild came at an ultimate price recently when he lost his life to a defending elephant.
The hunter named Theunis Botha, 51, tragically lost his life after he was crushed by an elephant who reacted in fear for its life.
The rather horrifying incident which happened over the weekend seen the avid wildlife hunter lose his own life whilst he was on a hunt in Gwai, Zimbabwe.
According to local media reports Botha who was with his group was killed when a a group of four breeding elephants charged at him in retaliation to gunshots fired at a number of elephants.
It is understood Botha was then caught by a female elephant who picked him up in her trunk before collapsing on top of him – crushing him to death – after she was shot by another hunter.
Speaking about the incident friends of the hunter described the married father-of-five as a “legend”, whose loss will be felt by all.
However Botha did not receive much sympathy from animal rights activists online who have said his brutal actions in the past have finally caught up with him, with many saying his barbaric pursuit of the species was unjust.