Elephant SHAWU
Shawu was part of seven impressive elephant bulls, all with tusks
weighing more than 50 kg each that could be found in the Kruger
National Park. The Chief Warden at the time, Dr U de V Pienaar,
decided to publicise these elephants as a successful example of
Kruger's conservation work.
Shawu, born in 1926 and died in 1982, was named after the Shawu
Valley in which he spent much of his life. He was a fairly
approachable animal and showed no particular fear for vehicles or
humans. His name in Afrikaans was "Groot Haaktand" or "Large
Hook-Tooth" (in english)
Shawu moved over a large range which spanned between the Letaba and
Shingwedzi rivers and stretched from the main road to the Lebombo
hills. This is an enormous area and it took him about six months to
travel from South to North.
In 1981 it was decided to fit Shawu with a collar as poaching was a
constant threat from Mozambique, this was successfully
executed.
Shawu was a large bull having a shoulder height of 3.4 meter.
Tusks
Left
Right
3.17
meter
3.05 meter
52.6
kg
50.8 kg
Circumference at Lip 4.5 meter
The left tusk of Shawu is the longest tusk on record from the
Kruger National Park and one of the six longest ever to come out of
Africa. This pair of tusks ranks among the longest pairs in the
Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game.
Shawu died of old age in the Kostini area east of Shingwedzi, near
the northern watershed of the Shawu Valley in October 1982. He had
been ill for some time and his condition and movements were
monitored daily towards the end of his life. He was close to 60
years old when he died.
(Shawu’s tusks are on display in the Letaba Elephant
Hall)
Based on photo by Anthony Hall
Martin Statue in the Palace
Hotel in Sun City
Statue in the Palace Hotel in Sun City
Recognition
Information and photos from different sources and internet
sites.