Elephant kills big game hunter Ian Gibson in Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe

A PROFESSIONAL big game hunter has been crushed to death by a bull elephant that charged him while he was out scouting prey in Zimbabwe.

Ian Gibson and his American client were in the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe. Picture: Supplied

A PROFESSIONAL hunter has been crushed to death by a bull elephant while he was out scouting prey in Zimbabwe.

Ian Gibson, 55, was tracking a lion for an American client when he came across the young male elephant in the rugged Zambezi valley, the Telegraph reported.

The client, who had earlier shot dead a leopard, had sat down to rest as Gibson and his trackers approached the bull.

The elephant was reportedly in a musth period, which means it was producing much more testosterone than usual.

According to Africa Geographic it turned suddenly and charged at Gibson. While the veteran hunter was able to get a shot off the elephant kept coming, kneeling on Gibson till he was crushed to death.

Wildlife ... The elephant was reportedly in a musth period, which means it was producing much more testosterone than usual. Picture: Supplied

Paul Smith, managing director of Chifuti Safaris which employed Gibson for the hunt, told the Telegraph that the American client and the trackers were “still too traumatised to give us full details”.

Big game hunting is controversial in Africa. With clients willing to pay more than $20,000 for a kill, advocates insist that it helps fund wildlife conservation. However, critics say it is a cruel and unnecessary blood sport, pointing out that in countries like Kenya where hunting is illegal there is a vibrant safari industry worth millions to the economy.

British actor Ricky Gervais recently voiced his anger at African hunting when he tweeted pictures of a US woman who had photographed herself smiling alongside the carcass of a giraffe she had just killed.

Mr Smith insisted that Gibson, known as ‘Gibbo’ in the hunting community, was a committed conservationist.

He said: “We know ‘Gibbo’ shot it once, from about 10 yards away, with a 458 [rifle]. He would never have fired unless he had no alternative. He was a hunter, yes, but he was also a magnificent wildlife photographer and conservationist.”