Description
Ezulwini
Ezulwini is the Zulu word for “from Heaven”. This big tusker lives up to his name. Unlike most large bull elephants, he is a giant but a gentle giant. Elephants enter a state of Musth, a period of heightened testosterone production resulting in sexual arousal and increased aggression. I have been lucky enough to encounter this giant many times and even when in Musth, he has been gentle and inquisitive, often approaching vehicles calmly and then drifting away to carry on his business unperturbed by your presence.
Unfortunately, elephant poaching is increasing at alarming rates and as with the days of big elephant trophy hunting, not only is the overall elephant population at threat, but irreversible genetic damage is being done. Unlike the natural selection of the biggest and naturally most successful genes being passed on, these genes are being poached out. This can be seen in some reserves where the gene pool now only contains small tusked elephant with high aggression levels due to the big trophy hunters of yesteryear favouring the opposite. Big tuskers and especially those with a gentle demeanour are at ever increasing risk from poaching.
Ezulwini roams an area of private land where historic boundary fences were dropped between neighbouring reserves all the way to the Kruger National Park to allow extensive free roaming of animals. Elephants roam incredibly large areas and are one of the largest beneficiaries of this private reserve expansion. This area is well protected and long may this giant and all of his kind be safe.
Ezulwini is estimated at around 45 years old. Living to between 60 to 70 years and with tusks continuing to grow in length and girth, he may become one of the largest tuskers of the Greater Kruger area in recent times.
