Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-04
cow ELEPHANTS
PROTECT MALES
African Explorer Describes
How Bulls Are Able to
Reach Maturity.

Carl e. Ackley, African explorer, in
a communication to the National Geo
graphic society at Washington, d. c.,
| tells of an elephant "first-aid brigade"
made up of the female elephants of a
herd, which not only attempted TO give
succor to their wounded sultan" but
| went on patrol duty in an effort to
punish his assailant.
While hunting elephants in Urganda,
Mr.. Akeley came upon herd in
clearing, rounded up in close forma-
ton, conscious of the presence of an
unseen enemy. There were about rs
elephants, mostly cows, and just as 1
was on the point of backing off to
safer distance, thinking there were no
big bulls in the lot, fine pair OF tusks
appeared on the near side,' he says.
"A clump of bushes offered cover for
a near approach. andI went in quickly
to within 20 yards of him, and as his
front leg was thrust forward offering
a good opportunity for a heart shot. l
fired both barrels of the double rifle
in quick succession.
'All was commotion as l seized my
second rifle, and, seeing there was no
direct charge, retreated some so yards
to the top of an ant hill, from which
I could see what was going on. then
witnessed a scene such as I had heard
described and which I had been keen
to verify. A number of cows were
clustered about the bull. for he had
fallen 80 yards from where he was
shot, and with their tusks and trunks
were doing their best to get him upon
his feet; the remainder of cows were
doing patrol duty, rushing about in an
increasing circe, searching for the
source of the trouble. That meant me,
so | retired TO a safe distance and wait !
ed for the atmosphere to clear. This !
bull stood IL feet and 4 inches high at
the shoulders, and the tusks weighed |
90 to and 10 pounds respectively, |
while the circumference of the front |
foot at the sole was 671a inches, the |
largest recorded, I believe.
at is generally understood that
large buE elephants are more fire.
quently to be found apart from the !
herds, but our experience does not
bear this out. Three bulls that we
have shot, having tusks each weighing ,
over 100 pounds, have been herd bulls.
We have found the large old bulls en-
joying the society and projections OF
large herds of COWS and young ami
mails. One splendid Old bull we'll Il
known in Urganda, who has been seen |,
by many hunters, is so we'll protected /
by a large herd of most aggressive
cows, who charge at the slightest in
timation of danger, that he still sur
wives. These old bulls are very rare.
for when one has developed tusks of
so pounds he becomes the target for
every hunter native or white, who
sets eyes upon him; thus it is only
the more crafty or timid individuals
that, seeking the protection of large i,
herds or clinging to the more inacces- ;
BILE regions, such as dense forests, {
to survive to a ripe old age :
and develop a full growth of ivory. ;
AT another time I was watching a i
herd from an ant hill, when from the r
lows there was a low, ominous rumble .
ike distant thunder, which was plain
ak and meant trouble. A ,hasty 8
glance around convinced us that there
vas but one thing to do, to stand and
meet the charge from the elevation
where we were and from which we {
:ould see. If we tried to escape to one
ide or to the forest we could not see
hem over the high grass before they
we're upon us. They charged toward il
Is. came half way and stopped They p
lad lost the wind, but Immediately l.
'aught it again. and rearing and p
dreaming with redoubled energy Fl
anne into view over slight rise 1t t
vas disconcerting spectacle. Their a
'reat ears at full spread, trunks q
Arashing wildly. a roaring. screaming L
mass, 40 tons of frantic female ele- o
'hant vengeance. l remember that o
cit homesick. A rifle shot stopped {
he leader. but, encouraged by the Il
theirs, she came on, only to be knock u
d down by a second shot. The 9TH y
RS crowded about her, SMILED and =,
oited. The old COW slowly regained ~
er feet and staggered away, while ;s
re in deep gratitude returned to .,
amp