30 May 2007, 16:02
ghundwanOne of Krugers Big Tuskers killed
As it was e-mailed to me
" Dear All,
Monday evening around gate closing time I received a message from Shingwedzi reception that a visitor reported a dead elephant in the road along the S-144 near a dam somewhere.
I motored out first thing on Tuesday morning and just south of Dzombo-west windpump I indeed came across a dead elephant lying on it’s left side right on the road surface. I approached the elephant from behind and as I drew alongside the carcass I immediately realized that this was one of our prominent tuskers. The dead animal’s tusks appeared huge. I estimated the carcass only two days old at most and two holes, one behind the right shoulder and the other high up on the left side of the neck, indicated the elephant may have been killed by another elephant bull.
A closer study of the dead elephant brought me to the conclusion that it had to be the carcass of Massunguine. I took a series of photos of this animal at Middelvlei windpump during March this year and I recognized the chipped point of his left tusk where the worn through “ball†at the tip of his “working tusk†had broken off. The scraggly little tail tuft also conformed to that of the elephant at Middelvlei. I recalled my FR’s from patrol and we salvaged the tusks.
Another “Great One†will not be tramping his way around Kruger anymore. Another living monument has moved on to the “Great Green Pastureâ€.
Groetnis,
Johann"
30 May 2007, 16:23
Aspen Hill AdventuresNow that's a great set of ivory.
I need a hat like the guy on the left has on. I wouldn't need a tent.
quote:
Originally posted by JudgeG:
I need a hat like the guy on the left has on. I wouldn't need a tent.

30 May 2007, 18:36
Bill/OregonWhat a great beast. Wonder how old the fellah was.
quote:
Originally posted by JudgeG:
I need a hat like the guy on the left has on. I wouldn't need a tent.
Now that's funny right there I don't care who you are!! However I had much rather have the guy on the left's hat in the sun than the one on the right.
I wonder what the tusks weighed. Any guesses?
465H&H
30 May 2007, 21:38
AtkinsonI hate to see the great tuskers go.
31 May 2007, 03:05
Bwana MojaJust how much money would one of us had paid to harvest that greal old elephant...with those long tusks. He's an $80K tusker in Bots.