Secrets of Rogue Teenage Tusker

[Debasis Bose]

Secrets of rogue teenage tusker caught in camera - the mere presence of a tusker (not seen in this image) changed the behavior of this rogue teenage male and sends the upstart slinking into bushes, his testosterone levels temporarily dropped to his socks. The young male lost all the physical characteristics advertising musth and rushed to maintain distance.

Nikon, Nikor 70-200 F 2.8, Shot @ 200 mm F 6.3, ISO 320, 1/320s. Corbett Tiger Reserve

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice image of a budding tusker. How do you know it is a rogue?

P.D. Stracey in his book elephant gold writes: "the Indian term for any unexplainable behaviour on the part of a man or animal is pagla, meaning mad and I do not think the term should be applied to animals, even in the case of a musth elephant, as the various forms of true insanity are confined to Homo sapiens. I believe, however, that all cases of assaults and sudden killings by domesticated elephants are either associated with the condition of musth or must be attributed to some provocation." (page 58)
http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/elephant-gold-by-p-d-stracey/

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Debasis Bose]

Dear Sabyasachi,
Thanks for your comment.
My understanding of rogue in context of an elephant or other large wild animal that is living apart from the herd and having savage or destructive tendencies is called rogue. "Rogue" to my understanding is not "Mad" but a "Mischief Maker" "Terror" "Horror".
Regards
Debasis Bose

[Mrudul Godbole]

Liked the display of Corbett habitat. Nicely captured. Thanks for sharing.

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Lively and lovely image with Corbettscape. The young bull is gaining in height and substance, which is very clear in the photograph but I am not sure whether it might have attained the age of breeding (20). Attitude of one bull towards the other can not be predicted before long period (months/years) of observation. Thanks for sharing. SaktiWild