Punda Maria

This bull was named after the northern most camp in the Kruger National Park, South Africa (Punda Maria Restcamp) around which was most often spotted. Punda had a very long left tusk that curved inwards below the tip of the shorter right master tusk, which had a distinctive crack at the tip.

This bull was first photographed by one of the Kruger National Parks pilots Mr Piet Otto near Punda Maria in 1987. Louis Olivier ranger at the time saw the bull regularly in the far north of the Kruger National Park. Like Mafunyane this bull had a short temper and did not like being approached.

Elephants are usually peaceful animals. Females may, however, be aggressive when young calves are present and bulls can be exceptionally aggressive during musth. All elephants may become aggressive when sick, injured or harassed.

Elephants react to threats or challenges in three different ways. Dominance or threat displays are designed to demonstrate the superior strength and social position of the individual. They may look towards the threat, spreading their ears out. ‘Standing tall’, they raise their head and tusks high. Head-shaking and trunk-swishing can also be seen.

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