Biggest, Heaviest Tusks & Horns

[Rishi]

(08-18-2017, 06:20 PM)Spalea Wrote: @Rishi 


About #280: Really beautiful specimens ! I would have never believed that some extant asiatic elephants could be such "big tuskers". Which proves that it's possible if they can be left quietly throughout their lives.

Truely... Unlike African ones who have it hollow, Asian elephants have solid tusks that need many years to grow. 

Indian & Sri Lankan elephants see a lot of conflict with people, especially along the migratory routes, which are fragmented. The prospect of an easy meal get them to raiding crops, which is much more nutritious than leaves & bark & roots.

But, usually the killer isn't direct conflict...It IS, sometimes (Marauding elephant that killed 15 might be shot as last resort) But mostly there's some chasing each other, cracker bursting, stuff crushng..but the primary reasons of premature deaths are ELECTROCUTION (visit for stats) from sagging electricity lines, or electrified farm fencing by connecting it illegally to live wires...

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..& RAILWAYS (visit for stats). Collisions have reduced after proper identification of migration corridors, but electrocution from Railway power lines are rampant as India is trying to phase out polluting diesel engines...

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Actually, the best specimens are the Forest Department employees (they get food & care as salary, retire at 60, & draw pension). They live a safer life, are allowed to roam into forests & mate.

In Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil nadu, there's this big guy called Santosh, who's 11 feet tall & 50 years old. His tusks are 5½ feet in length & got worned away at the lower ends!!!..

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