The South-African man Scott van Zyl was someone who specialized in hunting wildlife in safari area’s in South Africa and even made a living out of it. Not only was the man known as a professional hunter and a huge enthusiast of hunting wild animals, he even ran his own safari hunting company called SS Pro Safaris.
The man served as a sort of guide for international tourists who wanted to experience hunting animals in Africa. Because Scott knew his way around the Safari’s and around the vastly dangerous wildlife, his company ran quite well and Scott was proud to call himself a professional.
However, mistakes are made even by professionals, and this mistake ended up costing Scott’s life.
Unfortunately for Scott, it seems like nature was on the other side of the hunting game this time.
The 44-year-old went missing on a rather routine hunt in Zimbabwe. There were plenty of dangerous animals in the area such as lions, rhinos, and crocodiles. Scott, known to never back down from a challenge, knew all the possible risks and safety measures but got separated from another guide together with a pack of dogs.
Scott was last seen around the area of the Limpopo river near the border with South Africa. If was just a routine trip, and the other guide told the media that the pair stepped out of their car to look for crocodiles.
When the guide returned to the main camp along with the dogs and Scott wasn’t there, he realized something might’ve gone wrong. Afterward, a search and rescue team started looking for the man, searching the area piece by piece.
Eventually, they found a bunch of footprints of the hunter that led further to the river in question. His backpack was also found there, and rescuers started fearing the worst.
His death was the result of a crocodile attack. The Nile crocodiles often lurk in the water before they decide to attack their prey as a surprise attack.
Three crocodiles in the close vicinity had to be shot by the local authorities to conclude their investigation. One of those crocodiles had the man’s remains inside, and a DNA test was able to close the case.
“Permission was given for three Nile crocodiles in the area to be shot, and one of them contained Mr. Van Zyl’s remains,” a member of the Heritage Protection Group in South Africa said. “Subsequent DNA tests have proved the remains to be those of Mr. Van Zyl.”
The green organization One Green Planet regrets the death of the hunter but calls it “senseless” because these animals don’t deserve to be hunted.
“[He] shouldn’t have been hunting in the first place. Animals in the wild… are wild! They are living, thinking beings with instincts for survival,” a statement by the organization said.
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