Meet "Madala" the old warrior. Probably the oldest African Elephant Alive in Kruger National Park.
Although elephants can live up to 70 years, there are other factors to be considered. African elephants have a median of 56 years in the wild.
Potentially one of the largest living animals on earth, the elephant can live for 65 years or more. The limiting factor for its life expectation is the condition of its teeth. Once its final set of molars has been warn down, the elephant loses the ability to grind and adequately digest the large quantities of coarse vegetation that make up the bulk of his diet. It eventually succumbs to the effects of malnutrition and dies.
It is possible to make a rough estimate of an elephant's age from its physical size but this varies between individuals.
The most reliable way to age an elephant is by looking at its teeth.
An elephant's molars, necessary for grinding up plant material, are replaced six times during its lifetime. These molars form at the back of the jaw, and move slowly forward and upward. Each set is gradually worn down and replaced by the next set. The replacement of these molars can be linked directly to age so, by identifying the molars in use, the age span of the elephant can be determined.
Molar set 1 age 0 - 2 years
Molar set 2 age 0 - 6 years
Molar set 3 age 1 - 15 years
Molar set 4 age 6 - 28 years
Molar set 5 age 18 - 43 years
Molar set 6 age 30 - 65 years
Once the sixth set has worn down, the animal is unable to chew food anymore and dies of starvation.
For more accurate calculations, scientists look at the exact position of the molars within the jaw. They also examine the dentine and cement on the roots of the teeth. New layers are laid down every year, so counting the number of layers on the molar can give a more precise age.
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Filmed close to Satara Rest-camp in Kruger National Park on our 100 Day Kruger Park Safari.
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