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Hlanganini

Correct

Hlanganini it is. The bottom of his left ear has been torn off, leaving him with a square-shaped lower left ear.

Hlanganini is a Tsonga word which means ‘at the reeds’. This bull is named after the Hlanganini spruit south-west of the Letaba rest camp, which has its confluence with the Letaba River between the rest camp and the Engelhard Dam.

He is currently the largest known tusker in the KNP that still has both his tusks. Earlier this year he broke off part of his left tusk. The broken piece has to date not been recovered.

Great quiz, Nungu! Thanks. Isn't Hlanganini absolutely exquisite!! By the way, is that picture before he broke his tusk off? And where is he most often seen?

Would anyone be able to identify the ele? Could he be important or just another one. Distinctive hole in left ear lobe. Satara area about two weeks ago.

Thanks

Jane

Thanks OWN

Yes that pic was before he broke his tusk - here is a more recent one



He is most spotted around Letaba, Hlanganini spruit and Engelhard Dam.

Hi Jane,

I don't recognise this ellie - but I'm no expert. If you want someone who might know post the pic on this thread:

http://parks-sa.co.za/forums/viewtopic. ... &sk=t&sd=a

There are some experienced tusker fundis who might identify him.

Thanks Nungu On my recent trip to Kruger, an elderly couple told me they had seen a big tusker about 11km from Letaba, heading north. "It's the biggest tusker I've seen," enthused the gentleman. Unfortunately, when I got there, he was nowhere to be found. Possibly it was Hlanganini??

Yes OWN very possible - Letaba is a very good area to spot the tuskers and Hlanganini is amongst the very best - as you rightly said absolutely exquisite...

It could also have been one of the others around the area - we took a pic of I think Masorini last week (still waiting for the pics from my fellow spotter to ID him) - I will post in my trip report as soon as I get the pics.

The only big tusker that I ever saw was one close to Shingwedzi many years ago (the mid Nineties, and I only got a short video of him. Despite him being 100-150m into the bush, I clearly remember his tusk reaching almost straight downwards, the tips about half a metre off the ground. I never found out who he was.
Look forward to your other pics.

Let's try another one:



Pic courtesy of Ant Maddock

Oh, isn't his tusks in the Elephant Hall in Letaba?

I'll guess, cos I can't remember them all: Tshokwane?

That's right - his tusks are displayed at Letaba - It's not Tshokwane though - this Bull roamed a few km's further South...

Mandleve .

Well done Mikev - didn't need many clues this time did you?

Mandleve it is indeed - ease recognisable by a huge V-Shaped tear in his left ear.



He was often found near Skukuza, the Kruger gate or in the reed beds of the Sabie river. He was usually escorted by 4 young bulls, helping him to push over trees etc. He died from old age (approx. 56 years) and his carcass and tusks were discovered in September 1993, about 10km from Skukuza.

He still holds the title for the heaviest tusks ever recorded in KNP with a combined weight of 142,4kg. His tusks were so heavy, he often rested them in the fork of a tree or on the river bank.