Tuli Elephants

Tuli Elephants | Statistics | Herd Identification

Several groups occur within the Mashatu area. Some of them resident for most of the time only moving out of the Mashatu area for short periods of time while others only move into the Mashatu area for short periods of time and are more often seen outside of the Mashatu area. The herds are not constant and often two or more herds can be found in close proximity to each other.

Identifying individuals elephants can be easily achieved by observing the outline pattern of their ears, their tusks or other obvious markings / characteristics.

Charge’s group

One of the most recognisable herds is probably that of Charge. The herd comprise of approximately 30 individuals with several easily recognisable females. Within this herd there are four individuals that can be easily identified, namely Charge, Broken Tusk, Slender Tusk and Dorethee. A description of each of them follows:

She is a very big cow approximately 40 –50 years old with a distinctive pattern cut out of her lower left ear. Her personality however is the thing that gives her away. Very keen to mock charge and usually sends more than one game drive vehicle flying away. Charge has two babies one of approximately 3 years old and the other 6-10 years of age.

Broken Tusk
She is in the same age group as Charge with a baby of 1-2 years old. Her right tusk used to grow out very skew but has subsequently broken off. This makes her easily identifiable with one short right tusk and a much longer left tusk.

Dorethee
A younger cow in the herd with a small baby. Identified by a double triangle cut out of her lower left year. She is approximately 21-30 years old

Slender Tusk
She is a much younger cow of approximately 20 years old with two very uneven tusks. Left tusk much longer than right.

Charge, Broken Tusk and Slender Tusk seldom seen far apart. The herd can mainly be seen along the Matabole and Nyaswe rivers in the Moddergat - Dead Croton area but can travel large distances and often join up with other herds to form groups of up to 150 – 200 animals. Charge’s group are often seen with Christina’s and Pamina’s herds.

Christina’s Herd

It is a herd of approximately 20 - 30 individuals. A very gentle but sometimes shy group. Several elderly cows within the herd with beautiful tusks. Some of the more recognisable females are Christina, Clotilda and Flora. Flora however is not always seen with the herd and has been observed visiting other families.

Christina is the matriarch of this family. Mostly seen along the upper Matabole area and the Nyaswe/Matabole River confluence. Another dominant cow in the herd is Clotilda.

Pamina’s herd

A herd of approximately 15 individuals but often join up with other groups to form groups of up to 50 animals. Within the herd a baby of 3 years old with two folded ears. Another teenage female (15 years old) has one folded ear. Pamina is the matriarch of the herd and approximately 40 – 50 years old. She has two very recognisable ears and a very calm personality.

The herd are seen all along the Majale River and around the Cheetah’s Koppie area.

Hestelle’s herd

This is one of my favourite herds. There are approximately 20 individuals within the herd. Hestelle is the matriarch. She is a very old cow (probably 50 –55 years) with a wonderful personality. I just wonder how long we will still see her around. I have noticed that lately instead of leading the herd she would be right at the back of the herd following at a short distance. She has a calf at foot of approximately 4 years old and gave birth to a bull in October 2001. The young bull has a semi folded ear. Arnika a cow of approximately 40 years of age is the most likely candidate to take over the lead from Hestelle. Arnika has two offspring of ages 3 years and 5-7 years.

One of the young cows within the herd had a baby late in 2000. She is a small one-tusk cow and it was wonderful to see how the whole herd fussed over and protected the new comer to the herd.

Floppy Ears herd

This is the herd that might greet you as you are on your way from the Pontdrift border. It is a group of approximately 30 individuals and love to move within the Acacia trees along the Limpopo River. Floppy Ears is the matriarch of this herd and is approximately 50 years old. Her name is very descriptive of how she looks. With one folded ear and very impressive tusks she is not difficult to spot. Unfortunately late last year (2001) she broke both her tusks and now looks a little different. Several young bulls can be seen with this herd.

Crinkle Fold’s Group

This is a very big group mostly seen on the Motloutse but recently seen on the main reserve as part of an even bigger group. At times this group can be as big as 150 animals. Within the herd there is also a female called Polka Dot. Crinkle Fold is a very recognisable female with her right ear looking like a crinkle cut chip. She is an old female probably close to 45 – 50 years.

Giselle’s Group

This group has recently been seen in the Croton thickets close to Jackals Koppie. The herd consist of approximately 30 individuals with Giselle one of the more recognisable females in the group. Giselle is a cow in her thirties and has a very distinctive right ear with a very big triangle cut out of it. Two u’s can be seen cut out of the upper part of her left ear. This herd is more often than not seen with Scarflank’s family.

Big Lump Group

A big group with several big females in the group. The group on average is 30 – 50 strong. Scarflank is one of the most recognisable females in the group. She has a big tumour on her right side.

Diana’s Group

Diana is a beautiful cow of approximately 40 –50 years old. She has a 1-year-old baby at this stage. Within the herd there is also a cow, Tsholofela (which means hope). A snare has amputated Thsolofela’s trunk. Kgolobje another 25 year old cow in the herd has very curved tusks nearly like those of a warthog.

Tuli Group

Gemma, a big one-tusk cow is one of the dominant cows in this herd. Gemma has a very small baby that was born in November last year. This herd has been seen to associate with both the families of Christina and Hestelle.

Flora’s herd

This herd can often be seen on your way to the Main camp along the Majale River crossing. The herd comprises of approximately 15 individuals but are more often than not in the company of other groups. There are two very recognisable females within the group and most of the females in this group have no tusks. Flora is a tuskless cow of approximately 30 –35 years and the tip of her trunk is missing. This was most probably the result of a snare when she was much younger. She has however learned to adapt to this deformity. Both ears are very easily identified with a big halve moon cut out of her right ear. Agnes (20 years old) also a tuskless cow has a big triangle shaped cut in her right ear with a unique little notch in it.

Weird Tusk Group

This group is most likely a migratory group and are seldom seen on the reserve. They are a very nervous and shy group and sightings of this group is few. Spear the dominant female in the group has one very long and straight tusk while the other tusk is much shorter.

Spice Girls (SPI)

Clover and Ginger are two of the dominant cows in the group. The group consists of approximately 25-30 individuals.

Triangle’s Group

Triangle is a tuskless female with a small triangle cut into the upper part of her left ear.

Stompette’s Group

Stompette is a stunted female in her twenties with a shortened trunk due to a snare injury early in life. She has two unique ears and is easy to recognise.

Torn Ear’s group

This family is often seen on the western and northern sections of the reserve and seldom visit the central area. I have however spotted them once or twice along the Matabole River. It is a very shy group and good sightings of them are difficult.