On the wall in the Interpretive Centre in the Addo Elephant National Park visitors will find the magnificent mounted head of the park's most legendary elephant, Hapoor. He got his name from the "hap" (Hap is Afrikaans for 'nick') in his ear (which is 'oor' in Afrikaans) thought to have been inflicted by a hunter's bullet. Hapoor was the dominant bull in the park for 24 years from 1944 to 1968. He had a deepfound hatred for man (thought to be because of the hunter incedent) and both the park's staff as well as young bulls knew to stay out of his way. In 1968 Hapoor was dethroned by a younger bull named Lanky and driven from the herd after which he became a loner. In that same year he became the first elephant to breach the elephant proof Armstrong Fence. Unfortunately the decision was made to shoot him because of his aggressive nature and his head was later mounted in the restaurant and moved to the new interpretive centre in 2010.
It's kind of hard to look at that beautiful bull's head mounted. Yet when in Kruger I went to their elephant museum and saw several heads, some skulls and those amazing tusks which I found very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful creature. And what an interesting display they have there. Must visit soon!
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