Ivory poaching for tusks is the main reason that elephants have been so heavily hunted. The preferred tusk is known as the master tusk. There is also a display element to tusks and they can attract the interest of females.Įvidence suggests that elephants normally prefer one tusk over the other, similar to being left or right handed in humans. They are also used to aid foraging, digging, stripping bark and moving things out of the way trained logging elephants are capable of lifting large logs with their tusks. Principally, they are formidable weapons against potential predators like the tiger (although tigers will only ever attack young or juvenile elephants) or in battle against other elephants. What are tusks used for?Įlephants use their tusks for a variety of tasks. However, the average size of tusks has decreased over the past hundred years because hunting elephants for their ivory has resulted in the ‘big tusk gene’ becoming increasingly rare. Elephants tusks never stop growing so some old bulls display enormous examples. Elephant ivory is unique which when viewed in cross-sections reveals criss-cross lines that form a series of diamond shapes. The visible, ivory part of the tusk is made of dentine with an outer layer of enamel. This part of the tusk is a pulp cavity made up of tissue, blood and nerves. One third of the tusk is actually hidden from view, embedded deep in the elephant’s head. Usually in mammals tusks are enlarged canine teeth, but in elephants they are actually elongated incisors and are essentially no different from other teeth. About 50% of Asian females have short tusks known as tushes – which have no pulp inside. All African elephants, male and female, have tusks whereas only some Asian males have tusks. One of the key differences between African and Asian elephants is the tusks. A curse because man’s avarice for ivory has led to the senseless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of the magnificent animals. Blessing because they give a sense of true majesty that rise them above other animals as well and being of use for various tasks. Elephant Tusks Ivory Tusks – A Blessing and CurseĪn elephant’s tusks are both a blessing and curse.
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