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Took these shots in KNP close to Letaba in 2007. Well, this is about as close as I can get to elephant apart from only 300mm lens... I am too freekin scared of them.

Going through the tusker Gallery, I wondered if this might be Tsotsi?

Great shots there Ingwe123
Btw...how did he get that name? what did he steal?

Hi Gunner,

Thanks for feedback. According to the emerging tusker section
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/elephants/tuskers/emerging.php this is the explanation:


"Tsotsi is a well know inhabitant of the Letaba area, who has a penchant for destroying fences around the camp and staff villages, it was for this reason that the staff felt it appropriate for him to share the name Tsotsi with Ampie Espag for his cheeky habits."

It certainly looks like Tsotsi to me, but I am sure Aat will be able to confirm.

Great pics Ingwe123

Lovely pics! We saw him in March near Mooiplaas but much further away...even with the 300mm lens!

Ah thank you Ingwe123

Here's a 100% crop of the trunk area. The ears are not really visible on the pics. Working through Aat's docs, I discovered this might be Masthulele? Never knew ellie pics can be this fun!

Yes, looking at the thickening skin on his trunk you could very well be right.

Hi Ingwe123,
Why not posted at the Big Tuskers forum?

But getting serious with this tusker. The one you have seen is Masthulele. Easy to ID because of the detail you all missed ....
Look at the carve at his left tusk on the detailed picture. Including his tusks, trunk etc no doubt he is Masthulele.

Little story about 3 Tusketiers... Tsotsi, Masthulele and Masorini.
They all are kind of look-alikes. Masorini and Masthulele even very much, even the thickened skin on his trunk (same father ???) Tsotsi can be recognized by the large notch in his right ear and a smaller u shaped notch below this notch, Masthulele by little hole in left ear and scar on his left tusk and Masorini by clean ears. Looking from a distance to the tusks , like thickness and shape they all look very much the same.
Masorini however died early this year,so in 2007 it could be him. As said ID was possible by the scar on the left tusk.
Maybe nice for you to try out....
Look at the pics of Anthony Robertson (also 2007) and you can see the match yourselves (same position and scar is good visible)
http://www.tuskersofafrica.com/tuskers/masthulele_001.htm

Aat,

My sincere apologies. I posted and only realised afterwards I was in the wrong. Please accept.

Thanks for answering and great work on the ellies. I am sure a lot of people appreciate your dedication.

I think me and Anthony Robertson must have been in the same place at the same time. (28 April 2007)The background of the pics exactly the same... only I drove off when he started flapping his ears!! due to my "ellie phobia"... LOL

Thanks again.
Magda

Magda,

I was just joking about that posting

When I saw your picture I recognized something like I have seen this picture before and yes like you said it was probably same day/time almost.
Great you have seen this tusker , I think many do not realize that there are not so many (named) tuskers.
However I am getting the impression that there are maybe more then we think at the moment , just looking at the section new&promising there are about 19 in there now and the section is "growing". I have some more to add.