I am sorry to report that veteran PH Andre de kock was killed by poachers this morning while hunting with clients in Northern Tanzania. No-one else was hurt as far as we can make out.

I post this in the hope that we all wait to hear full details from proper sources.

bwanamich will be able to fill us in as his people were first in on the scene as far as I can tell.

PLEASE CAN WE AVOID SPECULATION TIL WE HEAR FROM BWANAMICH.

To Andre's lasting credit clients are all safe.

Another senseless death of one of the old school PH's.

Very sad and very troubling, we will now wait for details.

Does he have family that we could help/support?

quote:

Originally posted by JTHunt:
Another senseless death of one of the old school PH's.

So very true.

I first learned of Andre's death earlier today by another member here.

I called tanzania and it was confirmed, Andre was killed by elephant poachers was what I was told.


Slowly, the old school ph are passing on, naturally, or not.

RIP Andre.

Truly awful. I hope the Taazanian officials are on this.

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
Does he have family that we could help/support?

Andre and his wife Leslie owned the Meat Market in Arusha. I think they did ok, so support may or not be needed. But a very nice thought.


His daughter and her husband live in Arusha, along with their children.

What a waste, and a damn shame too!! Hopefully the bad guys are caught.

How terrible.

This is the second tragedy for RHS in a short period of time.

Terrible news. A respected old school gentleman taken away by scum. Until a shoot to kill on sight policy is adopted by all countries without fear of black vs white prosecution , these bastards will take our game, and like Andre, good people from our ranks. A sad day.

Bad news indeed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Got the call today as well from a good friend of Andre's. Truly an awful ordeal.

Poaching is at an all time high. Poachers are more embolden than ever. Our wildlife...and...as seen now...the wildlife's shepherds are NOT safe.

Andre: May God rest your soul!

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully they will be caught.

Brett

Today we have lost a fine hunter and great man.

Rest in peace. Damn shame.

ANDRE, WAS A FINE MAN, CLASSY GUY, GREAT HUNTER, AND FRIEND. GOD BLESS HIM, HE WILL BE MISSED BY EVERYONE,THAT KNEW HIM..........

Preliminary report -

Andre was hunting in Maswa with clients. Unknowingly they drove into the poachers camp. The poachers opened up with AK's shot Andre who was driving along with two staff people on the vehicle. The clients and their and photographer were ok.

From one source, but quite reliable.

May Andre RIP.

quote:

Originally posted by The Shadow knows:
Preliminary report -

Andre was hunting in Maswa with clients. Unknowingly they drove into the poachers camp. The poachers opened up with AK's shot Andre who was driving along with two staff people on the vehicle. The clients and their and photographer were ok.

From one source, but quite reliable.

May Andre RIP.

Bastards.

I didn't know of the guy, but my reaction is the same as if I went to Starbucks and some guy nearly ran me down as I was sipping my coffee on the patio. Because after robbing the bank the police were chasing him and he dicided he had the right to drive on the sidewalk.

That would put me in a vicious mood.

I'm sorry to hear about Andre de Kock's untimely death.

What a tragedy and totally senseless murder. My heart goes out to Andre's family. This poaching problem has escalated over the last several years to the point where it can no longer be ignored. I have said before that a shoot on sight order should be issued for anyone involved in the trade, not just the guys in the field. You have to to stop it at every point possible. Too often some low level players get pinched but the head never gets cut off the snake. In this case it is more like the hydra with several heads. You must cut off every head or the beast continues to grow and regenerate.

Andre,
may you rest in peace and my God bless you

Professional Hunter Andre de Kock has been killed in Tanzania by poachers. The incident occurred this morning, Friday, February 18, 2011, in the Maswa Game Reserve area in Masailand. One of the senior PH's for Robin Hurt Safaris, De Kock was guiding clients when the incident occurred.

According to information provided to The Hunting Report by Robin Hurt Safaris, the hunting party surprised a group of poachers who fired upon the safari vehicle without warning or provocation. De Kock was killed instantly. The clients, we are told, emerged uninjured, but two trackers and a game scout were wounded and are in a hospital in stable condition at this writing.

Government officials and anti-poaching teams returning to the scene discovered ammunition for AK47s and several pairs of elephant tusks, apparently abandoned by the poachers. Two aircraft have flown over the area in search of the perpetrators, but have been unsuccessful in finding them. The incident is particularly unusual because poachers in Tanzania usually avoid hunting parties and any confrontations with them. We'll have more details in the next issue of The Hunting Report.

It is too early to pass on information regarding memorial arrangements. De Kock's family and the entire Robin Hurt Safaris organization are still in shock and trying to make sense of the events. Anyone wishing to contact the family may send an e-mail to de Kock's son-in-law, Jonathan Howells, at jonathan.howells@robinhurt.co.tz.

On behalf of the entire Hunting Report staff, our deepest condolences to the de Kock family and all of Andre's co-workers and colleagues at Robin Hurt Safaris. - Barbara Crown, Editor & Publisher.

Awful deal, just awful.

It seems like a shootout with poachers is a very, very rare occurrence. I would assume you are much more likely to get trampled, mauled, stomped, etc. Do you think that's right?

Very sorry to hear about this.

We can only hope that the poachers will be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

No accounting for this kind of thing in any other way.

May he rest in peace, a fine man and an excellent PH.Poachers should be shot on sight, and I hope this is a wake up call for the Tanzanian government.

Fellow hunters,
The report as posted by Kathy is accurate. If there is any consolation in a tragedy like this is that Andre did not suffer! I can't help but feel enraged that of all the "noble" ways a Professional hunter may meet their end, he was gunned down by poachers........ without even the chance to defend himself. He wasn't looking for trouble just trying to share his passion for Africa's wildlife with his fellow hunters!

More enraging is the fact that most likely the perpetrators will not be found and will continue with their gruesome business without losing a night's sleep. FUCKERS!

He leaves behind his wife and two daughters and a son.

Our heartfelt condolences to the family. It is of course very very bad to loose a loved one so suddenly.

Thanks Mich.

I had an email about it yesterday am but wanted to read your comments before I put finger to keyboard.

It's a great loss and my condolences to the family.

As for catching them and prosecuting them to the full extent of the law, I'd happily settle for a simple application of rule .303 as a better alternative.

I've no doubt there will be serious repucussions and that the anti poaching operations will be stepped up forthwith.... and not before time.

Lets hope the powers that be will step up the Anti Poaching work after this low.
RIP Andre.

As terrible as this is, it should be remembered that RHS had just lost Rick Hopcraft in November (buffalo). Both Rick and Andre were excellent hunters and fine people. My heart goes out not only to their families, but to the rest of RHS, who must be devastated.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
As for catching them and prosecuting them to the full extent of the law, I'd happily settle for a simple application of rule .303 as a better alternative.

I am with you Steve, they can even use the 7.62x51 rule. As long as the results are the same.

Keith

Very sorry to hear this.

May Andre RIP.

Maswa! always wanted to go there. Is poaching a big problem in that part of Tanzania?

Its a problem everywhere in Tz where there are people and wildlife. The dangerous ones are the ivory poachers who have Ak and 100's of rounds and are mostly former/current rebels.

In all honesty, I am very suprised that they shot up the car as normally they just shoot in the air to scare one off. I would not rule out that those bullets were not intentionally aimed at anyone in particular. Wrong place at the wrong time.? It matter's not. The damage was done. Memorial will be held tomorrow at the polo club near Andre's home.

Very sad. At least he died doing something he loved .

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Lets hope the powers that be will step up the Anti Poaching work after this low.
RIP Andre.

I hope this gets pushed by RHS.

In reality, the wildlife department does an extremely small amount of anit-poaching work.

The serious anti-poaching is organized by the safari company that has the block(s).

If it were not for those companies, there would be almost no anti-poaching done.

In the best case, I pray that these murders are caught and brought before the court. They will have a very difficult time avoiding a death sentence.

Andre was one of the good guys.

May he rest in piece.

Prayers, sympathy and condolences go out to his family and friends.

I would think (hope) that the government would not care for this type of thing. Can't help the tourist industry for things like this to happen.

missed this

Mike

I read Mike's post first. What an awful waste and a real shame.

The tears and sorrow are heavy tonight. You will truly be missed Andre. My most heartfelt condolences to Leslie, kids, and grandkids. Why do the good guys have to go?

R.I.P. Too sad.

"Poaching will not decrease until the cost of being a poacher increases. So shoot straight."
MBN

R.I.P Andre..May god bless his soul in PEACE.

Amen!!!