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A South African professional hunter died Friday after being crushed by an elephant after the animal was fatally shot on a game reserve in Zimbabwe.


Theunis Botha, 51, was leading a hunting group when they stumbled upon a breeding herd of elephants at the Good Luck Farm near Hwange National Park, Zimparks spokesman Simukai Nyasha 

.
Botha focused on three female elephants charging the group but was caught unaware by a fourth coming at him from the side, according to the South African news site 

. That elephant was lifting him with her trunk when a member of his group shot the animal. The elephant then collapsed on Botha, crushing him.


 specializing in leopard and lion safaris in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He claims to have pioneered a European-style of hunting in the region using hounds to help flush out the prey. Botha would often travel to the United States to find wealthy customers to take part in the trips, according to the 

His bio on the company's website says Botha was a native of South Africa, "raised in the ways of the bush and its people." It goes on to say "Theunis embraced his heart's passion and engaged in fulltime big game hound safaris in and around South Africa."


Last year, Zimbabwean tourist Stephen Coetzee was trampled to death by an elephant in Hwange National Park while taking pictures. Like Botha, Coetzee was caught unaware by the approaching female elephant, this one with her calf, reports Zimbabwe's 

.
Hwange National Park is also where an American big game hunter tracked and shot dead the beloved 

 in 2015, sparking an international outcry.
Botha leaves behind a wife and five children 

Environmental News

Theunis Botha was leading a hunting group when the elephant charged and lifted him up in the air. At that point, a member of Botha's party fatally shot the animal.

South African man crushed to death by wounded elephant

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