Africa's Giant Tuskers

[Flutterby]

Wow! Michael...what an unassuming name for an ellie!

[Lisbeth]

The tusks are already long only lacking in thickness

Michael is not only unassuming, but also rather a stupid name for such a great animal

[100ponder]

Michael lives in Amboseli and Amboseli borders on the south with Tanzania with the border cutting across the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro and the slopes of Kilimanjaro is where the elephant carrying the largest set of tusks was hunted. I suspect the genes for large tusks is still carried by Amboseli 's elephant population.

[Lisbeth]

‘Iconic tusker’ shot by trophy hunters in Zambia

© Game Animals of the Past and Present

A large bull elephant was shot and killed in Zambia this past weekend by a trophy hunter. The term ‘iconic Tusker’ was used to describe the elephant and celebrate the hunt, but it is not clear if this was indeed a true ‘Tusker’ (with tusks weighing 100 pounds on each side). It is estimated that there are fewer than 50 true Tuskers left in Africa, and probably only 25-30.

The hunt was reportedly legally organised through Stone Hunting Safaris, where hunting in Zambia takes place in “the Luangwa Valley, Kafue Flats, and Bangweulu Swamps in governmental conservation areas or large privately owned ranches, depending on the required species”.

Game Animals of the Past and Present posted their congratulations to the hunter on their Facebook page, saying:

“Biggest elephant shot in Zambia in decades, iconic Tusker. Well done great trophy and yes all meat was utilized donated to local villages and schools. Lot of money was payed [sic] for the license to shoot the bull and that money goes towards conservation of not only next elephant generations but the whole ecosystem there benefits from legal controlled hunting.”

Game Animals of the Past and Present explained, in reply to numerous comments, that all parts of the elephant were used. The hunter receives the skin and tusks, and the meat is donated to local villages and schools. In addition, the money paid by the hunter goes towards conservation practices in the region.

[Lisbeth]

Have a look at the comments

[nan]

oh NON

and they buy people around... with the meat

[Flutterby]

[Flutterby]

Amboseli Trust for Elephants

23 hrs

#RIPLittleMale. While hundreds of people were preparing to participate in the Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions, a tragedy occurred in Amboseli yesterday morning. One of the last big elephant bulls in Africa was shot and killed by the authorities because it was suspected he had killed a farmer. That bull was 49-year-old Little Male, the brother of Eudora and the son of Emily, who was the sister of Echo of the EB family. We have known him since he was five years old, so we have followed his life for 44 years. We watched him grow, become independent from his family, learn the ways of the world of the males, eventually coming into musth and competing for females. He was in his prime, fathering calves, passing on his good genes for robustness, good health and longevity. That important role he was playing in the Amboseli elephant population ended yesterday. It is times like these that we are tempted to give up but we don’t. It hurts so much, but we have to fight for the other elephants here including Little Male’s sons and daughters. But we must not forget the death of the farmer. It is a massive tragedy for his family. It is not a question of guilt and innocence here. We must strive for peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife.

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[Lisbeth]

Did he or did he not kill the farmer? and in which circumstances?

If the writers do not give enough information how can we create an opinion

In this case we can only say: " what a pity that such a splendid animal had to die"

[nan]

We must strive for peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife.

so right

but "was suspected" is not enough for killing