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While TUSKER hunting in early June we also saw
the floppy-ear chap at Ngotso water hole - his left tusk must
extend at least 1,3 - 1,4 meter from the lip and with his moderately
to thick tusks he might very well qualify as a new tusker
for Aat's website. . . .

While BIG tusker hunting in early June, Tinyarhini came to
visit us at Shingwedzi, grazing just 20m from where we
were camped right on the outer fence.

Hi Aat, saw this elephant a km or so from Mooiplaas waterhole near Mopani. Both pics are of the same elephant. Does it have an ID?

Salamanda,
However it is sometimes difficult to judge and to estimate length of tusks I think this bull is not a tusker. Looking at the thickness of the tusks I also think he is not getting one either in future.

In general,
Maybe it is a good idea to compare bulls one have seen with the ones on the tusker site to get an idea about length and thickness of tusks. I also realize that pictures taken from behind gives the idea that tusks are longer then when you see them in frontal position.

[quote="salamanda"]Hi Aat, saw this elephant a km or so from Mooiplaas waterhole near Mopani. Both pics are of the same elephant. Does it have an ID?

During our time based at Shingwedzi we found Mashshule twice. [ 8th & 10th June ]

The first time he was about 2km down stream from Shingwedzi Camp and very dedicated to his supper,
below is the best photo I could manage before he parked himself inside the bushes on the photo and remained there until we had to rush back before camp gate closure.



Two days later we again found him, this time just a few hundred meters from where we found him the first time.
There were some water pools in the river bed and the trees were still green - so the old gentleman had no reason to go wondering off in search of food.

These were taken less than 2km from Letaba in December 2008.



Please excuse the quality as these were converted from film to digital.

My word! That is a real beauty zandyl! Thanks for sharing. Could it be Masthulele?

More on our BIG TUSKER hunting in the north of KNP.

We found this tusker at Nkokodzi water hole - he
seems to have a lot of characteristics similar to
Madzopfuini.

Could this be Madzopfurini with broken tusks ?
What do you think Aat ?

Wow zandyl - that's some tusker !

It is not Masthulele - but who is it then ?

That was Hlanganini.

Thanks zandyl - very good photos !

@ zandyl
Great pics of Hlanganini , he died in july 2009

@100Ponder - great pics of Machachule , one of the few I never met so far....maybe next trip

100ponder,
I just looked at the pictures and the ones of Madzopfurini. I don't think it is him , diffenrences at the left ear and right ear (notch in left ear at your pics , not at the ones of madzopfurini. Also looking at his trunk there are differences. His left tusk is more upwards and madzopfurini's tusks are more round and curving inwards.., but that is just my opinion.


[quote="100ponder"]More on our BIG TUSKER hunting in the north of KNP.

We found this tusker at Nkokodzi water hole - he
seems to have a lot of characteristics similar to
Madzopfuini.

Could this be Madzopfurini with broken tusks ?
What do you think Aat ?

Here are photos taken on the red rocks route on 20 June 2012. The first 2 photos look like Machachule, as i could see the notch in the right ear.


IMG_5324 by rymerdr, on Flickr


IMG_5318 by rymerdr, on Flickr

Any ideas who this bull could be? Very similar sized tusks, but it was taken about 15km further down the road on the otherside of the river.

IMG_5308 by rymerdr, on Flickr

@ ALL

NEW Tusker added to the site.

Thanks to 100ponder and H Koen I could add a new tusker to my tusker site.

His name is MASHIKIRI , named after a spruit close to Klopperfontein, north of Punda Maria.
Nice to add one from this area

Photographed by H Koen in november 2011 , could not ID him and with the pictures of 100ponder, made in june this year I think it was time to add this him

Link to his page:
http://www.tuskersofafrica.com/tuskersnp/mashikiri.htm