The world bids farewell to famed hunter, Theunis
Theunis Botha (51) was a professional big game hunter as well as a breeder of hunting dogs
TZANEEN – National and international media reported on the tragic hunting death of Theuns Luiperd, as he was affectionately known as, from Tzaneen. He introduced the African Blue Hound into the K9 Anti-poaching Units.
Theunis was with a group of hunters at the Good Luck Farm in Gwayi, near the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe at about 17:30 on Friday, 19th May when the accident occurred.
The hunters had gone for a walk when they suddenly came upon a herd of breeding elephants. Three elephant cows stormed the hunters and Theunis shot at them.
A fourth cow stormed at Theunis from the side and lifted him up with her trunk. One of the hunters then fatally shot the cow. As the cow collapsed, she fell on top of Theunis, killing him.
Theunis was a specialist at hunting leopards with his big game hounds. He’d been hunting for most of his life and paid for his own studies through his hunting. He had a degree in psychology and anthropology.
His company, Game Hounds Safari, formed in 1980, catered for many wealthy clients from the USA.
His wife Carike travelled to Zimbabwe on Monday to identify Theunis’s body at the Hwange Colliery Hospital mortuary.
He will be remembered as an exceptional professional hunter and as a wonderful husband and father. Theunis leaves his wife and five children, Marike, Liza, Carmen, Yvonne and Theunis Jnr.
