Tusks have be a minimum of 20kgs/44lbs per side and 1.2 metres outside the lip. Applies to both tusks. Penalty to the PH for allowing the client to shoot an undersized Elephant is a maximum fine of twice the trophy fee and possible forfit of the tusks. It's never happened to me, but I know 3 guys it has happened to. Boy, it really hurt them.

I almost stuffed up last year. We spent a full hour watching a magnificent bull that was half asleep in some thick bush. The tusk nearest to me was fabulous and I was sure I could see the other side. It looked the same shape, size and colour and it even moved every time the bull moved it's head.

Just as I was about to get the client set up to take the shot the elephant swung it's head towards us and I realised that the far tusk was snapped off halfway down and what I thought was a tusk was a white curved branch that he must have been using as a scratching post making it move every time he moved his head.

.......another 30 seconds and he would have been on the ground! To say that we were all disappointed as we pulled back from the elephant would be the understatement of the decade.....actually, I was thanking my lucky stars

TZ also has the same sort of thing with Leopard (amingst others) and as you know they also only allow males of all species to be taken. (except croc) When I hunt Mr Spots I cut a blaze on the tree a set distance from the bait so that I know how long it is as soon as he gets to the bait, and I don't allow the client to shoot until I've had a sure sight of his balls!

I got the name Shakari from the guy who got me into African hunting 25 years ago. (sometimes it feels like 250 years ago)

He was an Anglo Indian who had spent his youth in India moved to Africa in his twenties and became a PH.... he also became the best friend I've ever known and was the finest man I've ever known. In India when you go on a hunt you go on Shikar and the hunter is called the Shakari....so I guess the short answer is Shakari means hunter. It's also the name I used to write under in my early days of writing for the various (mostly British) hunting magazines.