SANParks.org Forums

I recently spoke with Dawie Fourie (the artist mentioned) and can confirm that the replicas are very near completion and it will indeed be put up at Croc Bridge. View Dawie's painting of Duke (and others) at http://www.southafricanartists.com/home/DawieFourie
http://www.natureartists.com/dawie_fourie.asp

Because Duke was not part of the magnificent 7 it is unlikely that replicas of his tusks will end up at the Elephant hall museum in Letaba.

I think it should be included there in a special section, but the views on this is still pretty much split.

It would indeed be a fitting tribute to a magnificent Elephant if his tusks can be displayed in the Elephant hall.

Hi All,

On a recent trip to KNP I visited the Elephant Hall in Letaba.

While chatting with the lady on duty at the desk we got around to discussing Duke and the possibility of his tusks ever being displayed there. It sounded like it won't happen.

Duke broke both of his tusks while he was still alive and this seems to disqualify him. Although his tusks were found and they now make up a near weight record for KNP, and one of them is the longest, they are not complete tusks.

Poor old Joao of the Magnificent Seven doesn't even rate a mention these days, yet his tusks were the heaviest of the Magnificent Seven when they were recorded some years before he lost them. Unfortunately, they were lost while he was alive and were never found and he can't take his rightful place in the hall.

I think that Duke's tusks should be displayed, if only because of the incredible story of how the broken pieces were found and recovered. He is only 2 kg's away from the outright record and one of his tusks is longer than Shawu's.

Oh, and he was the king of Kruger for many years.

Perhaps space can be made for a photographic display of the fantastic tuskers who don't qualify to have their tusks displayed. Thinking about it, there are at least 30 of these grand old bulls who should have some recognition. It wouldn't take up a lot of room in the hall. The photographs don't have to be large ones.

Ironically, many of them had tusks that are heavier than Shingwedzi, Dzombo and perhaps even Mafunyane, so a photo display of them is a good idea, I think.

Regards,

Digby.

Digby, that would indeed be such a nice idea, if some recognition could be given to Duke and the others.
Just some photos and stories would be better than nothing, if indeed his tusks will not be displayed.

I don't know the practicalities of this, but it would be great if possible.

Maybe some of us forum members could donate photos that we've taken over the years.

Hi,

I think it is ESSENTIAL that they put Duke's tusks up in the Letaba Elephant Hall. He was a very special elephant, even though I didn't have the privilege of meeting him.

I think a lot of people won't be very happy if his tusks don't get put up with his story in the Letaba Elephant Hall.

I think if enough of us bug the Letaba Elephant Hall Management, maybe they will do it.

Samantha

I think the Elephant Hall should stay as it is, as a tribute to 7 individuals who defied the odds and survived to mature into the original Big Tuskers.

With the poaching of elephants and the wars in Zimbabwe and Mozambique that they lived through, it is staggering that they survived as long as they did with their great tusks intact.

The Duke story is unique and I think has significance for the forum in particular. But maybe there should be a story board dedicated to him nearer to his home range, perhaps in Lower Sabie.

Hi Saraf,

Yes, only Dzombo was lost to poachers and the others were indeed fortunate not to be poached.

SANPARKS policy for the Elephant Hall seems to me to be to display the tusks of the original Magnificent Seven, being Kambaku (127.2kg's); Ndlulamithi (121.8kg's); Dzombo (112.3kg's); Mafunyane (110.0 kg's); Shingwedzi (105.3kg's); and Shawu (103.4kg's). Joao's tusks were lost before he died and he is thus disqualified even though they might have been the heaviest of the seven.

Nhlangulene (109.5kg's) was included, although not one of the original Magnificent Seven, because his ivory was also exceptional and he was largely unknown at the time the Magnificent Seven were publicised.

SANPARKS then also included Phelwane (135.5kg's) as the then weight record and Mandleve (142.5kg's) as the new weight record.

If a bull with heavier ivory dies with his tusks then SANPARKS will most probably include him with these nine greats. Eventually this elephant will come along. The bloodlines are there so it will happen someday.

Interestingly enough, Bruce Bryden mentioned in his book that at the time the original Magnificent Seven were selected there were around 40 other bulls in the same weight class. I wonder what became of them and if their ivory was recovered, or if records of them were kept by SANPARKS. It would be fantastic to have this information to browse.

Duke is a special case and perhaps he does deserve his own display in the south of the park, where he ranged widely. More people will see him if displayed at Lower Sabie, even though Crocodile Bridge was his favourite area of the park.

Regards,

Digby.

Hi all,
I am following this discussion and have my thoughts about it.

At my Tusker website I have a special section for the Magnificent 7 and a section for the Tuskers of yesterday.
Perhaps it could be an idea to have a special section for the so called other Big Tuskers including Duke, Hlanganini, Mandleve, Mashagadzi, Phelwane a.o. calling them the Famous Big Tuskers of Kruger or another name , maybe good suggestions by you?

regards
Aat

If I think of Duke I would say "legendary Tusker" would be the right name

I have a suggestion. If we get agreement, maybe somebody closer to home would like to champion it.

1. Since the forum was heavily involved in the rescue of Duke's broken tusks, maybe we could sponsor a display at Croc Bridge.
2. With the new gate now well in operation, what is happening to the old reception. Maybe place could be made for the display.
3. Duke's tusks could be displayed and an appropriate story of his 'beat', tusk breaks, retrieval thereof, and last days could be scripted and displayed in a similar manner to the Harry Wolhuter lion skin display at Skuk.

What do you think about it?

Bush Baptist, i like your idea very much. (All three) Space enough at C/bridge.

Hi,

I think that is a great idea if Duke's tusks and everything else plus a story of his life be displayed at Crocodile Bridge

BB
Great Idea !!

I have said it several times , most people do not realize that Big Tuskers are very very rare and special.

There are less big tuskers then almost any other rare species in kruger and not just Duke was a personality, think of Alexander the "home tusker of Mopani" , Hlanganini the " home tusker of Letaba".
So yes we have to do something for these guys.
I will open a special section at my tusker site and will name it Legendary Tuskers of Kruger (Flying Cheetah )

Will let you know when it is ready

@ All

Like to do what I promised....

So... Just launched the new section at my Tusker website with LEGENDARY TUSKERS of KRUGER NP

included 5 tuskers where I think they belong in this section... more to add and advise / requests are welcome

One of them is DUKE and since it is just a year ago he died I modified his pages to have a photographic story of his life including new pictures
Oldest picture back to 1991 and latest from 2011 a few months before he died...


Hope you like the new section and Duke's story

links:
Duke
http://www.tuskersofafrica.com/tuskers/duke_001.htm

new section Legendary tuskers
http://www.tuskersofafrica.com/tskmain/tsklgnd.htm

it became nightwork ...but worth to do it...