19 May 2010, 20:15
DCS MemberTuskless vs. Tusked Cow
This may be a stupid question, but how does a tuskless cow come about and not a tusked cow? Is it some sort of genetic distinction? Aren't the ele in a herd fairly closely related to each other?
19 May 2010, 20:28
graybirdGenetics as I understand it.
19 May 2010, 23:04
retreeverThat is the reason they try to shoot tuskless to get the gene out of the herd.
Mike
Guess that ain't the only answer. At least tuskless would be the last to be poached.
As I understand it, the genetics are not well understood, but in areas that have been heavily hunted/poached for long periods of time, the incidence of tusklessness is much higher. It's supposed to be about 3%, but I have read that in some areas it may be as high as 17%, secondary to having been shot for their teeth for generations. That is the reason that the Zim game department allows shooting for tuskless, to reduce prevalence in the gene pool.