SANParks.org Forums

Hi Oom ..

You've also seen the info .. but to share with our fellow forumites to also let them know.

SANParks appreciates the input given by the forum members on this matter. At this stage they don't see the benefit of moving Duke's one tusk to the Skukuza Museum. In respect for Duke they want allow him the decency to enjoy the last few years of his life without having his tusk displayed for all to see while he is alive. Once Duke has passed away. The discussion about his tusks will be brought up again.

Just so all our forumites also know. And from my side I truly hope you will all understand and rather try to enjoy the beauty and magnificence of Duke while you have the opportunity, instead of looking at his tusk and missing the true essence of who and what Duke is in the KNP.

I am a new member and am busy trying to work my way through the forum and its topics.

I have started with what I know and can comment on as I have first hand observation of the subject.

I was fortunate enough to get both Shots and Video on duke about 18 months ago and read in our local news paper that he has dropped a tusk. I have seen the pic in "is Duke a dad again".

He is certainly a great animal and will no doubt be of a good age. Is it not possible to estomate his age from his tusk?

I also agree with the guy who was partly instrumental in the recovery of the tusk, that it should be on display as it belongs to the country's people and not SANParks.

LET ALL SEE IT !!!!!!

Oldwigg - Nelspruit

Hi oldwigg and a warm welcome to the forum.

I am not sure if they can tell an ellie's age by his tusk but do know they can age them by the wear on sets of their teeth, and consequent condition of the animal.

If you would like to know more about the how, why and wherefore of when Duke lost his tusk you can have a look here

I am sooooo excited to report that I have just seen Duke ..on the Salitjie Road, the coordinates..S25.03.44 E031.53.43

He was so calm eating and posing for photo's...

Will post some here and on the Travel Tales thread later this eve.

Real goosebumps...I almost had an asma attack...




I will post more on my flickr site when I have time.

Good one Mgoddard...lucky to see the old ellie. Will never forget the one & only day I saw Duke, it was my first ever visit to the park and it nearly closing time on the S28...strolling along while them tusks making their way through the tall grass. I was so excited & watching that I only got 1 very blurry picture..damn.
But none the less, I am glad to say I got to see the old tusker in the park.

here are some pics of Duke from 17 &18 05 2008

We saw him on the Nhlowa road(S28) about 6-8km from the turm off from the H4-2 at the CB end. He was feeding on the tree in the pics and we watched him for about 15 min then went up the road about 10km and turned back and he was still in the same place. That is when I took this rather poor sunset pic of him

Duke should be in vicinity of 60 now, Doispane Male.


Welcome to the forums! Hope to see you here again soon!

ps: Caps means shouting in the e-world. if you promise not to shout i will show you this topic.

Seeing that Duke has no intention to breed anymore at his age, I would say that one should rather try and make like a tree. He seems to love "rossyntjiebos" in particular. So much so that he gave his left tusk for some of it.

Here are some pics my brother got.





Hope you enjoy

Just read about Duke breaking his tusk

Sniff......, but what I wanted to ask is ...

Can this be 'Duke II' ?



Taken back in 2005. He was trailing Duke at a distance.

Duke was going north on the s128 at high speed. Looked like he was late for a big tusker meeting. We parted company where the S128 turns back to join the H10. He was still going north.



The reason I ask, is because I've noted a similar young bull in photos (taken in 2007) with him.

Can anyone confirm that this young bull still hangs around with him?

The Bull(s) that follow the old big tuskers are known as Askaris or guards...they do not necessarily grow into big tuskers themselves but who knows. Duke is the one big tusker I still have to see partly because I am hardly ever in his territory prefering Kruger from Balule northwards, but I have seen pictures of him on his own (without Askaris) and with up to 3 bulls in attendance...so it looks like they come and go. From what I can gather from JDH,WTM and Matthew who saw Duke just before his tusk loss and straight afterwards he was alone but they will confirm

Yip, I should have said 'Could this be a future Duke II, we can only hope'.

Found the link to the other picture of Duke and askari taken in 2007 posted by Jose here.

That's nearly two years later than my pic and they look very similar. Note the notch in right ear on my pic, can't see on Jose's.

Would be nice to know...tell my kids one day this is the ele that learned from Duke.

The bonds between male elephants are not as strong as those between females. Females stay in one group for their lifetime. Males wander on their own, sometimes travelling with others, and then parting company again.

Because elephants have a home range with which they are familiar, and in which they spend the vast majority of their time, individual bulls will meet each other, and form bonds. They are after all highly intelligent and social animals, and do live a long time. Within the male society a dominance structure will be established in the process.

While the idea of Askaris is very romantic, it is not as well defined as some would like to believe. Yes, younger bulls will sometimes accompany an older bull, and yes there will be some type of social bond there. But it is by no means a permanent guard accompanying an old bull to protect him.

It is possible that Duke may even be the other elephants father. Duke is way past his breeding age, and must be the father of quite a few adult elephant in that area.