#RoamingTheWild: The One-Tusk Bull:
Here’s a throwback to drier and dustier times – when this asymmetrical elephant passed through the traverse at Africa on Foot. I’m not sure what happened to his right tusk, or if he ever had one… but it certainly makes him a memorable mammal!
Did you know that elephants will favour using either their left or right tusk? Much like humans who are left or right-handed. In the case of this bull, he didn’t seem to have much of a choice!
Shortly after posting this on Instagram, we received an update from Elephants Alive with an ID on this big fellow. His name was ‘Huge Lefthook’ and he had been living without a tusk for as long as they had known him. Unfortunatley, he died a few years ago of natural causes. Sad news, but we can be grateful that we got to meet him, even for a brief moment.
Elephants Alive have made ID kits for thousands of elephants in the Greater Kruger region – using the unique shapes of their ears (as well as other identifying features) to assign each elephant with a name. This helps them to collect data about elephant movement in the area – a huge help to the conservation of these wonderful creatures. Follow them on social media and if you can, drop them a donation to help them continue the fantastic work they’re doing.
Scroll through the pics for some tusky textures. RIP Huge Lefthook: The One-Tusk Bull 
Roaming Media runs a film residency out of Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve as part of our ongoing partnership with Sun Destinations. Keep a eye on our feed for more updates from our time #RoamingTheWild. If you haven’t seen our Wildlife Page, be sure to check it out!
