Identified Tuskers of Kruger National Park

[Richprins]

Mavatsani

Just North of Shingwedzi at Lamont windmill & waterhole (2 October 2011)

[Dewi]

Mavatsani on the 7th August 2014. Viewed from the high level bridge at Shingwedzi.

[aat]

MAWAWI

Characteristics
Right ear: small notches. Left ear: small notches and a small hole at the top.
Tusks curved upwards, right tusk has been broken in the past.

Range
Shingwedzi to Punda Maria.

Tuskers of Africa - Mawawi

[aat]

MPENZA

Characteristics
Collared.
Lost his right tusk in 2011, Almost clean ears, just a small notch in the left ear near the center.

Range
Shingwedzi

Tuskers of Africa - Mpenza

[aat]

Tihongonyeni - 3 December 2011


Driving a few km’s on the Old Main road, suddenly this guy coming out of the thick bush.
Collar and nice big left tusk… I could not know that this tusker was MPENZA… later at home receiving pictures from others I realized that Mpenza lost his right tusk

[Flutterby]

Sure this is Mpenza, seen outside Shingwedzi on 2nd October 2011.

[aat]

2 and 3 May 2014, Shingwedzi riverbed, close to camp


Some years ago Mpenza had two tusks and was wearing a collar. He lost the right tusk and also his collar.

First time I saw Mpenza was May 2nd , in the riverbed near the bridge




Next day , just before closing time Mpenza offered me the possibility to look at him for a long time when he was in the riverbed again but now opposit to the "day-visitors" area. So in camp and enjoying seeing him busy with drinking

A bit talking or whispering helped to see his face better

[Richprins]

Mpenza, Shingwedzi bridge October 2014

[okie]

Mpenza

On 26th October, early morning driving down the S52 from Shingwedzi, we came onto this road block

Ho-hum, yah well no fine ..... we just had to sit and wait. No big tusker, but... quite interesting nevertheless -- a part of his trunk is missing, but he was grazing/munching on branches, chewing away. And he was managing quite well

Oh, and his tail-tip had no hair, despite him seeming fairly youngish (not old). Or was his tail perhaps shorter than it should be ?

Anyway, he was really standing at ease.... going nowhere, very very slowly too




Then, after about 20 minutes .... suddenly, out of the bush ... this big guy --- with only a left tusk



Towering over the "roadblock ",

then moved off ....



At first I thought maybe it could be Shashanga again, but, we saw him only three days ago , some distance away, but when I looked closer .... well, well, well, my old friend Mpenza, whom I first met in 2010. At that time he still had both tusks, and a collar too, but no, only his left tusk



I think while going past him there in the road, old Mpenza had probably whispered in his ear "You've had you fun fella, now move off, and let those nice folks pass".

We had to wait another ten minutes or so, before the roadblock moved into the bush so that we could carry on, altogether waiting almost 60 minutes .

[aat]

MUNE

This bull has been named by STE.

Characteristics
Collared by STE.
Tusks almost equal in length, right one a bit more curved. Almost clean ears, just a small notch in the right ear (top) and a small notch in the left ear (top).

Range
Shingwedzi

Tuskers of Africa - Mune