Faan Voges, ‘Shawu’, bronze, cast by Michael Canides Foundy, One of ‘The Kruger Magnificent Seven’, signed and dated Oct 2003, numbered 1/15.
Shawu is named for the Shawu Valley near Shingwedzi, where he spent most of his time. He often roamed as far south as the Letaba River; and was known for moving slowly sometimes taking 6 months to move from north to south. With a shoulder height of 340 cm, Shawu was one of the largest of the seven. In Afrikaans, Sharu was known as “Groot Haaktand” (“Great Hook-Tusk”), in reference to his tusks’ shape. He was around 60 years old when he died in 1986 of natural causes.
His tusks are the longest on record in South Africa. The left tusk was 317 cm long, 45 cm in base circumference, and weighed 52.6 kg. His right tusk was 305 cm long, 45 cm in base circumference, and weighed 50.8 kg.
Today the tusks are on display at the Elephant Museum in the Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park.
Dimensions: 49.3 cm long by 20 cm wide by 31.5 cm high (includes the base)