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US trophy hunter killed by buffalo in South Africa

African buffalo are seen on December 26, 2024 in Grater Kruger, South Africa
Buffaloes in South Africa can weigh up to 800kg and are among the so-called Big Five of African trophy animals

A 59-year-old American has been killed by a buffalo he was tracking during a trophy hunt in South Africa, police said.

The man from Dallas, Texas, whose name was not disclosed, was found dead last Sunday at a farm in the northern Limpopo province.

He had injuries on his stomach and torso, and a buffalo that had been shot and killed was lying nearby.

A statement from the police said they had been alerted by security personnel at the farm who led them to "a lifeless body of a man already certified dead inside an ambulance".

Buffaloes in South Africa can weigh up to 800kg and are among the so-called Big Five of African trophy animals, along with elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards.

Hunting tourism brings in $169 million a year for South Africa, according to a study by a local university released in July.

"Foreign hunters, often wealthy retirees from the United States," spend on average $32,663 per visit, the study found.