Current Tusker - Matlakusa

[RosemaryH]

Current Tusker - Matlakusa

Photo by Joel Roerig


Origin of Name:‘Matlakusa’ from tlakusa, in Tsonga meaning to ‘raise, lift up’, this is a large open pan and borehole, alongside the eastern border, southeast of Malonga in the Kruger National Park and links to this bull’s large home range in the Northern and Far Northern KNP.

Special Features: This bull’s ivory closely resembles that of Xindzulundzulu, that it is fairly symmetrical, straight and widely splayed with a shallow curve from a side profile. The left ear holds the defining characteristics that separate these two bulls, there is a R5.00 sized hole in the tip of the lobe as well as an area of damaged cartilage at the top give a large v-shaped ‘collapse’ in the ear. A very small u-shaped notch and two R0.20 holes are visible on the middle of the lobe but only at close inspection and with the ears extended. The right earlobe had a R0.50 sized hole towards the bottom of the lobe that has recently been torn and is now a u-shaped notch with a small hole towards the inner lobe above this. Other than this the lobe is fairly clean edged. A small protrusion of skin is visible on the trunk at the top adjacent the left tusk. Visible from a side profile is a growth on the left foreleg behind the leg just above the joint.

[RosemaryH]

Not sure if this could be an elephant to look at in the future???

This elephant was seen on 4 January 2012 at 8H28 near the tropic of capricon

LQ -

This is quiet an exciting sighting and I would be very grateful to get these images on email. At first glance with the shape of the tusks and the location, this appears to the same straight tusked bull in the Shingwedzi/Mopani area that several people have sent images of, and that was my first reaction. However a new characteristic on the left foreleg showing a growth towards the upper section clearly seen in the first image, is not present on our other Shingwedzi bull being monitored. This would indicate we have 2 separate very notable tuskers with similar ivory. I have checked all the other images in the Shingwedzi bulls monitoring file to make sure of the other ID’s given and none of these showed this bulls growth on the leg and the hole in the left ear visible on the second image. So this confirms that we have 2 bulls now to monitor and whom I feel are eligible for naming when the time comes. This is another submission that again shows how valuable the data can be with the ID characteristic’s and how important ear markings and other ID features are especially in a situation such as this when the tusks are very similar in shape. Wonderful submission.

If you don't mind LQ, would you email your photo's in full resolution as requested please. [email protected] or [email protected] Thank You