Tuskers of Kruger Discussions & Identification

[okie]

Still on 20th October 2014 , we saw this lot at Boyela Wh , south of Babalala . Milling around , and that Wh quite far , therefore difficult to bet a good pic .
I'm not able to ID him, but he seems a fairsize up-and-coming tusker .

[Richprins]

Ok..but he'll have a stroke catching up?

Bring it on!

[okie]

Now , her's an interesting one , seen near Kloppersfontein on 22nd October 2014 .
He was visibly quite old , and BIG . But he had lost both his tusks , so it must make you wonder Hmmmmmmm ???

by the way , Kleinboet there next to him , has a very very deep notch in his left ear

[Lisbeth]

Amazing tusker sightings, Okie

[Flutterby]

Lovely pics okie!

Poor old ellie , wonder how much longer he'll be around.

[Richprins]

Interesting you saying that last one is BIG, okie!

This makes quite a difference...sometimes tusks appear massive on a rather small bull?

A slight case in point is probably Kruger's most famous tusker, Mafunyane. Their was wild speculation about the size of his tusks until they got them, and many were "disappointed"! (They were huge, don't worry!)

[okie]

RP , you are absolutely correct . And IMO , it makes it quite interesting sometimes on how or what parameters we should use in defining a " big tusker " .
Now , a male elephant can grow in size to between around 2,8 meters high , up to almost 4 meters .
Now you see an a big big guy , say 3,6 m in height at shoulders , with relatively ( to his size ) smallish tusks , and compare that with a smallish guy , say 2,9meters at his shoulders , with tusks measuring exactly the same size as Mr Big .

Now , decide , who is really the bigger tusker Hmmmm?

A case in point is Machachule ( not seen for a couple years ) , but he is ( was) a smallish ellie , but his tusks , relative to his size is HUGE . On the other hand , Masthulele , is a much bigger in stature elephant , with big tusks , and currently carrying the biggest tusks in Kruger .
However , if we consider their sizes , relative to their tusks , then I would say that Machachule is ( was ) actually a bigger tusker . My opinion .

Look at the pics of Nkombo earlier in this thread , and which you described as " he looks like a mastodon " . Again , he is not so very big in stature , and therefore showing off what appears to be huge tusks . Lengthwise , sticking out , about 40 % of his total shoulder height .
So , when I look at a tusker , I try to estimate his height , and then try to get an estimate of his tusk length , in comparison to his actual height .

Now , here is another interesting thought .
Old Duke , down in the south , was not really a very very big guy , but his tusks dragged on the ground in front of him - I have already shown long shots of him from way back in 2004 , and how he had to walk very upright so that his tusks would not catch the ground in front of him .
Now , lets postulate , and say what would have happened if he was only seen for the first time AFTER both his tusks had broken off . Would he still have become such an iconic sighting in Kruger . Somehow I doubt it .
What do you think

[Richprins]

I agree absolutely, okie...but let's not forget that the tusks do indeed qualify, regardless!

I have seen Machachule and Duke...thought Duke was a bit bigger in stature, though? Both were in/next to the road, which is a good way of guaging!

Riceho is another example of a "small boy"...also in road!

[okie]

Of course the tusks always count

Duke was mid-size , bigger than both Machachule and Riceho .

And then of course , I've seen veritable monsters , with fairly smallish tusks . Not having " genuine Levi's " - they don't have the jeans for it

[Flutterby]

Thanks okie and RP...interesting discussion.