Africa's Giant Tuskers

[100ponder]

Thanks for posting Lisbeth - Wide Satao was certainly a remarkable bull but nature must follow its coarse.
Sad to see him go.

[100ponder]

Just for the record, Wide Satao died on 14/12/2021 and in the Tsavo Trust monthly report for December 2021the following tusk weights are reported :-

Left - 105 lb (47,6 kg)
Right - 117 lb (53 kg)

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

Like a slim woman

[Lisbeth]

Super tusker Tolstoy treated for spear wound

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Jeremy Goss



Originally published by Big Life Foundation

Super tusker Tolstoy of Amboseli National Park in Kenya is a living natural wonder, carrying some of the largest tusks on the planet. So when the rangers from Big Life Foundation, who preserve the wildlife and habitats of the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem, don’t see Tolstoy for a while – they go looking.

When Tolstoy’s absence was noticed last week, the rangers set out to search beyond their regular patrol areas. Eventually, they found Tolstoy resting under a tree. All appeared well, until the giant took a step. It was evident that Tolstoy was struggling to walk. After getting closer to get a better view, the rangers could identify the problem: Tolstoy had a puncture wound in the joint on his front right leg.

A wound like this was no accident. Tolstoy is known for raiding crops. He usually returns unscathed from his night-time forays into farmland but, when he is caught in the act of crop-raiding, farmers will do whatever they can to defend their fields. In this case, Tolstoy was speared in the leg. Crop-raiding by elephants can cost a farmer their entire season’s income in one night, and despite Tolstoy being one of Africa’s last remaining ‘super tuskers’, that doesn’t stop farmers from protecting their livelihoods. It is also not the first time this has happened. Tolstoy was treated for three spear wounds in 2018 – injuries that were also received during crop-raiding.

The joint Kenya Wildlife Service/David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust mobile veterinary unit was quick to respond, but the decision to treat Tolstoy was not made immediately. Darting an animal of his size, particularly with a wound in a sensitive joint, is extremely risky because the elephant may not be able to stand after treatment. The decision was made to wait 24 hours and see if his condition improved.


Tolstoy was darted and quickly treated by the vet team. After receiving a jab to wake up, he retreated to rest in the shade.

The rangers stayed by his side through the waiting period, spending the entire night out with him. However, the wound showed no sign of improvement. The decision was then made to dart him – which was done quickly and professionally. His wound was thoroughly cleaned and treated, and Tolstoy was given antibiotics and painkillers before receiving a jab to wake him up.

With great effort, Tolstoy finally stood and stared back at the treatment team, before retreating into the shade. For now, his prognosis looks good. But he is unfortunately not yet in the clear and Big Life’s rangers will continue to monitor him as his wound heals and he walks the road to recovery. The rangers will also continue to spend their nights out in the farms around Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, keeping elephants safe and helping farmers to protect their crops – in the hopes of preventing similar occurrences in the future.

[Richprins]

Monster!

[Lisbeth]

Iconic Amboseli super tusker Tolstoy dies

Posted on April 29, 2022 by teamAG


Tolstoy pictured in front of Mt Kilimanjaro

Tolstoy, the Amboseli super tusker, has died at the age of 51, just weeks after being treated for a spear wound.

Click on the title to read the whole article and watch the extraordinary photos!

[Lisbeth]

Kenya|| Dida, the oldest elephant "in all of Africa" has died

She was between 60 and 65 years old - "She has been the subject of several documentaries and those who knew her through photos and videos, as well as those who had the exquisite pleasure of meeting her in person, will remember her"
The oldest elephant in Kenya and, according to the Kenyan Wildlife Service rangers "probably from all of Africa" died at the age of 60 (between 60 and 65 writes the KWS on social media) in the Tsavo East National Park.

Dida, with her very long tusks, was a well-known elephant among wildlife enthusiasts and an attraction for thousands of tourists who visit the Kenyan park every year.

"Dida was truly an iconic matriarch of the park, perhaps the oldest female" tusker "(large tusks) in Africa - reads the Kws release -, she was the subject of several documentaries and those who knew her through photos and videos, as well as those who had the exquisite pleasure of meeting her in person, will remember her ».
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(Facebook)
Kenya Wildlife Service
on Tuesday
A matriarch has rested

We are saddened by the death of Dida who was possibly Africa’s largest female Tusker and a Matriarch residing in KWS Tsavo East National Park . She died from natural causes due to old age having lived a full life to about 60-65 years old.

Dida was a truly an iconic matriarch of Tsavo and a great repository of many decades worth of knowledge. She shepherded her herd through many seasons and challenging times. She served as both the subject to various documentaries and an iconic tourist attraction. Those who got to know her through pictures and videos as well as those who had the exquisite pleasure of meeting her in person will remember her.

Rest Well Dida.

#ZuruKenyaParks
#ZuruNaKWS


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The KWS reports that Dida died of natural causes, but the "tusker" elephants are those most at risk of poaching. In 2014 the most famous "big tusker", Satao, was killed by poachers in Kenya with a poisoned arrow, causing worldwide outrage. Satao II was also killed for ivory three years later. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the African elephant population has decreased by 110,000 in the past 10 years, to only 415,000 animals.

https://www.cdt.ch/news/mondo/e-morta-d ... ica-298265

[Lisbeth]

I have had to read the above in a Swiss newspaper, no SA newspaper, that I know of, has published it. The same goes for the fierce fires on Mount Kilimangiaro

[Richprins]

How amazing for a cow!

No news here, Lis?