06/20/2026
South African big game hunter Theunis Botha was killed during a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe after a violent encounter with a herd of elephants.
Botha was part of a professional hunting group operating near a wildlife area when they unexpectedly came across a breeding herd of elephants. The animals became aggressive almost immediately, a common reaction when elephants feel their young or territory are threatened.
As the elephants charged, the situation quickly escalated. During the chaos, one of the elephants was shot. The animal collapsed and fell onto Botha, crushing him. He died at the scene from his injuries.
This case stands as a reminder that even experienced hunters are not immune to the dangers of the wild.
The story continues to circulate worldwide as a warning about the real consequences of big game hunting and the power of animals defending their own.