SANParks.org Forums

Haupie, I think he will move South again for Winter, and can often be seen back in the S28 area by May/June.
I hope so anyway.

Elsa, it just proves the point of right time, right place. What was amazing though, is that none of the visitors new who DUKE was.

Haupie, Duke was definitely on his way south when we saw him at Tshokwane, good luck in finding him, it is an awesome experience

Actually saw him today at lunch time! Looking good and enjoying a hearty lunch about half way between the high level bridge and Nkuhlu on the H4-1.

And EJ has just reported he was between the H12, High level bridge at Skukuza and Nkulu picnic site today.

We spotted Duke on the H10 right next to the road about 15km south of Tshokwane.

Here is one i got of him:

Mike, that is a fantastic pic of Duke and you were so lucky to see him nice and close to the road.

Carolynn, Duke usually moves North, Tshokwane area for the Summer and then back down again for the Winter months.

Thanks Elsa

I have been wanting to see Duke for such along time now and when i realized it was him i couldn't believe my luck! You feel so small sitting in your car a mere 3m from such an enormous beast, he is so calm and some how you feel honored to be in his presence, imagine what he has seen in his lifetime i mean what he must be in his fifties now!

So sad to see what has happened to Duke's Tusks.
We saw him on 4 January 2003 (He had not been named yet). We saw this great Tusker and took some photos. Later at the elephant museum we asked about him. We either did not ask the right people or he was relatively unknown at the time. No one could tell us anything. Later that year I read somewhere about a great tusker which had just been named "Duke". On later visits we were not lucky enough to see him again.
It is sad about the tusks breaking off but life must be much more comfortable for him now. In 2003 when we saw him he had to lift up his head when he wanted to walk. The photos aren't great, sorry but I only had a 2 megapixel camera way back in those days but I would like to post them in honour of a wonderful elephant.


Large

Hi Birdie
No need for apologies your pics are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Bornfree.

Great Pictures Birdie
Duke is very special

Just out of my curiousity: where can I find any information on Duke's height, length or weight? On the pictures here he looks that big. But I like to compare him with the bulls I have seen in reality.

I cant find any info on his weight, height or length but here is a very good site by one of our very own forumites!

Aat's Duke page

Heike,
Duke is not the biggest bull in KNP , there are bulls and Tuskers who are bigger, up till 3.80 at shoulder.
I just added the sizes of Duke tusks to my site , this is measured by the tusks they found.
http://www.studio-aat.com
w.r.
Aat

Hi All,

Not sure if my pic update is going to be successful, its the first time I'm trying.

Anyway, its of Duke at Dukes waterhole June 2009. We watched him for about 30 mins before he dissapeared.

Cheers
Ross

{fix link - By Boorgatspook}

So glad to see someone has actually seen Duke lately,
I was getting a bit worried.