Origin of Name: Machachule has been named in memory of Corporal Joe Managanyi who served 33 years service for the Kruger National Park. (Machachule meaning ‘the lead dancer’ this name was given this name by his staff as he was known as a very strict worker who did not waste time and who had to do things immediately, leading by example)
Aat, or anyone else I was hoping someone would be able to help me identify this guy? His tusks look very impressive, maybe an emerging tusker? Seen a few km from shingwedzi on the H1-6.
Can this be confirmed as Machachule? Seen where the entrance road towards Shingwedzi meets the H1-6 in 2010. Very docile. He couldn't be bothered less what we were doing.
I neglected to mention that this isn't the same ellie as the above pics. This was an Askari an the other side of the road.
Last edited by Guinea Pig on Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Can this be confirmed as Machachule? Seen where the entrance road towards Shingwedzi meets the H1-6 in 2010. Very docile. He couldn't be bothered less what we were doing.
I neglected to mention that this isn't the same ellie as the above pics. This was an Askari an the other side of the road.
Hi GP Confirmation that the elephant in the first two images is Machachule
In regards to the first 2 images, Machachule (named in memory of Corporal Joe Manganyi) is quiet unique amongst the tuskers having very upwards curved ivory in comparison to the ‘typical Kruger shape’ that tuskers such as Mastulele and others carry which tends to be straighter and slightly curved at the end. This makes Machachule quiet distinct. He also has 2 very distinct notches the left ears ‘square’ notch being beautifully visible in the 2nd image. I can just see the large v-shaped tear in the right ear in the first image (I could not enlarge this much before I lost quality) the same notch is folded and a bit misshapen in the second image but is still definitely there. There is also a small bump off centre on his trunk towards to the top of the trunk and closer to the right tusk which is visible in the second image this is also characteristic but can only really be seen on the closer full frontal images.
He is a wonderful bull that also seems quite happy to be photographed. He is currently one of the larger bulls roaming the KNP at the moment and has grown considerably since he was first identified, definitely one to watch.
Machachule, the small square notch in the left ear is visible in some of the images. I can also see a shadow below the muddy patches of a small growth on his right flank close to the hip this looks a bit like mud but is on the exact growth area (this is quiet hard to see on the images with the mud) The shape of the ivory is also the main telling sign the very distinctive curved ivory. Machachule is also one of our larger bulls at this stage, his condition does not look good in these images and he is an older bull but it could also be that he has come out of a musth cycle as they are known to loose condition during this. Images received in the August of the same year show him in better condition.
Edited by RosemaryH to include identification reply
The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author unknown
lion queen wrote:Terrible photos I know, I thought this might be Machachule??
We saw this elephant on 1 January 2012 at 17H59 at the look out near Singwedzi.
LQ
I think this is Machachule, unfortunately a few things do worry me but as the photos are not ideal I can’t really investigate them to closely. The tusks would appear to have the right shape and the location is correct. The angle of the ears do not give us a clear look at the left ear and the characteristic square notch, in the first image there does appear to be a collapsed notch visible, but this vanishes in the second image, but this really could be the angle of the ears. The small growth on his hind area is also not visible in these images but again this could be angle as it is not a very raised bump. I would be comfortable with the ID of Machachule based on the ivory but would only be happy to give a 100% ID if the right ear could be seen.
Nice to have confirmation this is one of the big ones indeed.
LQ
