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Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Shot on Kodak Trix film, ISO 400, with a Canon A1, 50mm 1.4 lens. Developed with Kodak D76 and scanned with a Minolta Dimage Multi II.
I move down the stairwell another level. The second floor is a lot more heavily damaged than the previous; an entire section looking like it had collapsed into the street. I crouch down and try to stay out of sight as I go along the side of the wall. I stop just short from where the floor drops away, kneel down and keep a low profile behind the crumbling wall, and slowly mount my rifle on top of the blasted concrete for stability. The gunner and one of the other rangers are pulling a tarp over the open cab and another ranger stands in front of the truck; keeping watch I'm assuming.
Cristy is going for the gunner, so I decide to take aim at the other ranger with the tarp. Then the last can be taken out between the two of us. She's not gonna shoot until I do, so I straighten out, take aim, and...
Pictured is the Javelin Anti-Tank Missile system in the various different positions and stances that it could be fired from and how it can be carried in the correct way...Here a member of the Army School of Infantry (Specialist Weapon School) steadies the Javelin on a wall. ..Javelin, the medium range anti-tank guided weapon replacement for Milan, is an enhanced version of the American weapon proven on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by US forces...The UK version has two significant enhancements - a more effective sight system and a tripod, for firing and observation. Javelin delivers longer range, greater lethality, significantly more powerful optics and a lighter load for the infantryman...Although designed primarily to destroy tanks and light armoured vehicles, Javelin will also provide a potent, all-weather, day or night capability against fixed defences, such as bunkers and buildings.
The integrated sight allows the operator to acquire the target, lock-on, fire and 'forget'. This means that as soon as the missile is launched, the firer can acquire another target or move position. Javelin has a maximum range of 2500m, and overfly and direct attack modes of operation...Javelin's surveillance and target acquisition performance is better than all other passive, ground mounted, battlegroup surveillance systems...Javelin is a crew-served weapon operated by a firer and a controller/observer. The controller/observer commands the weapon and assists with loading, identifying targets and battlefield damage assessment.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Stuart A Hill AMS
Image 45162589.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45162589.jpg
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On a damp day around Crewe Gresty Bridge, I was instantly inspired by the intelligent positioning of DRS's new locomotive 68002 'Intrepid' along side Ffestiniog Railway's 'Prince'.
This is one of few of my photos that was not photo-bombed by the masses of people at the Open Day. I also fancied doing something different to the inevitable identical photos many of you will see of this event.
@ChrisRailPics
19/07/14
There is so much to see in this previously posted photo ( new edit ) that it's difficult to know where to start.
Of particular note are the 4, yes 4 workmen taking a ride on the steelwork and Walter Woolfenden's pick-up.
I will leave the rest for you to find and marvel at, i think the date was about 1965-6
I want to be brave like Esther who risked her life and position as queen to save her people.
I want to be selfless like Hannah who gave her only child to god for his entire life.
I want to be courageous like Ruth who followed Naomi into a place that was not her home.
I want to be like Mary who had the faith to disregard all judgement set against her for being a pregnant virgin mother.
I’ve spent so much time looking in the mirror and wanting to be all these superficial things. Or being afraid to look a certain way because people might think it’s too different. But have you ever looked in the mirror and said “I wish I could be more like Esther?”. Of course not, that sounds silly doesn’t it?
You know what the crazy thing is, if you were to bring that to god he would give you a new, unbelievable courage. But when you spend your time wishing your hair would be a certain way or your skin would be perfect you are wasting your time for something that will not last.
I’m almost positive I talked about this in the last project but that’s okay because something changed in between that time. A pastor was down at my church and she prayed over me. I had been lost and broken and scared and I had never met her before yet she put her hands on my head and right away told me, “God wants you to know he thinks you’re a gem.” A gem. Something so beautiful, valuable, and precious. Tell me, how can a woman I never knew, reach into the darkest part of me and speak words of fire and light? How could I not believe when a woman was standing in front of me telling me something only god could know and understand that I needed to hear?
This picture represents me in every single way. From my quirky personality to the way I’m afraid to part my hair in the middle because of what the kids at school might say. However that person is in the mirror, in a cage and stuck there. All I had to do and all I have to do is walk away. He is begging for you to turn away from that broken glassed mirror and to hear him tell you how beautiful you are. He wants you to know you are a gem to him. Unpolished, maybe. Chipped, probably. I mean I know I am. But still so beautiful and so unique.
You have a beauty that nobody else can obtain and only he can set a fire that will shine through those brittle bones and set heat to the coldness of your soul. We do not need anymore self conscious people who are obsessed with the way they don’t resemble Tyra Banks. He needs people with a beauty that only Esther, Hannah, Mary and Ruth had. A type of beauty that is only found buried beneath the dark coals inside. A type of beauty kept away in a hidden gem.
Highest position: 392 on Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Parco di S.Gavino - Porto Torres.
DA 50-200 mano libera ... e si vede :-)
Il picchio rosso maggiore (Dendrocopus major), lungo circa 23 cm, è nero con le parti inferiori, le spalle ed alcune zone del capo bianche. Il vertice è nero negli adulti e rosso nei giovani, le copritrici inferiori della coda sono rosse, e rossa nel maschio è anche la nuca.
Vola a sbalzi e con una velocità notevole, però è poco resistente; sul terreno scende di rado, ma quando lo fa vi saltella con una certa disinvoltura.
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland from its position on the Castle Rock. Archaeologists have established human occupation of the rock since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD), although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half. As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100 year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".
Archaeological investigation has yet to establish when the Castle Rock was first used as a place of human habitation. There is no record of any Roman interest in the location during General Agricola's invasion of northern Britain near the end of the 1st century AD. Ptolemy's map of the 2nd century AD shows a settlement in the territory of the Votadini named "Alauna", meaning "rock place", making this possibly the earliest known name for the Castle Rock.This could, however, refer to another of the tribe's hill forts in the area. The Orygynale Cronykil of Andrew of Wyntoun (c. 1350 – c. 1423), an early source for Scottish history, names "Ebrawce" (Ebraucus), a legendary King of the Britons, as having "byggyd [built] Edynburgh". According to the earlier chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. 1100 – c. 1155), Ebraucus had fifty children by his twenty wives, and was the founder of "Kaerebrauc" (York), "Alclud" (Dumbarton) and the "Maidens' Castle". The 16th-century English writer John Stow (c. 1525 – 1605), credited Ebraucus with building "the Castell of Maidens called Edenbrough" in 989 BC. The name "Maidens' Castle" (Latin: Castra or Castellum Puellarum) occurs frequently up until the 16th century.
Once the sun moved into a favorable angle, we all took up position outside Missionary Ridge tunnel for a runby. (Actually, a bunch of them.)
And yes, there was more than one Dad Joke made about it being the missionary position...
An old John Deere tractor sits in the powerful sun while on display at the Washington County Ag Center.
Same Water Vole, taken from same position, same lens, same Denoise and sharpening settings, no crop, only difference one taken with my D7200 and one taken with the V1, this is just a comparison for the folks who like to be in the know, Mr Vole was very good to me sitting still while I changed camera bodies, The Kingfisher unfortunately wasn't so patient, so same bird same camera, different perches lol only 22 left now Neil :-)
Située au cœur de la presqu’île du Cotentin, Valognes occupe une position exceptionnelle sur ce territoire qui lui vaut aujourd’hui d’être la capitale politique de la Communauté d’agglomération du Cotentin qui regroupe 132 communes et 182 000 habitants.
Petite cité pleine de charme, cette ville d’art et d’histoire conserve un riche patrimoine, héritage de son histoire, témoignage de sa splendeur et de son rayonnement qui lui valurent le titre prestigieux de « Versailles Normand » durant le siècle des lumières.
Bombardée lors des combats de la libération à la fin de la seconde guerre mondiale, Valognes fut reconstruite par des urbanistes et architectes qui ont su avec talent, concilier les exigences de la vie moderne avec le souci de conserver son authenticité et le prestige de ses nobles façades.
Disposant d’équipement, de commerces et de services multiples, Valognes offre à ses habitants et à ses visiteurs un véritable confort de vie qui en fait désormais une destination de villégiature prioritaire en Cotentin.
Valognes conserve sa réputation de petite ville simplement gentille, délicatement aimable, discrètement séduisante, comme l’affirmait en son temps l’un de ses édiles.
Located in the heart of the Cotentin peninsula, Valognes occupies an exceptional position in this territory which today makes it the political capital of the Cotentin urban community which brings together 132 municipalities and 182,000 inhabitants.
A small city full of charm, this city of art and history preserves a rich heritage, a legacy of its history, testimony to its splendor and its influence which earned it the prestigious title of “Versailles Normand” during the Age of Enlightenment.
Bombed during the liberation battles at the end of the Second World War, Valognes was rebuilt by town planners and architects who talentedly knew how to reconcile the demands of modern life with the desire to preserve its authenticity and the prestige of its nobles. facades.
With multiple amenities, shops and services, Valognes offers its residents and visitors a real comfort of life which now makes it a priority vacation destination in Cotentin.
Valognes retains its reputation as a simply nice, delicately amiable, discreetly attractive little town, as one of its city councilors once said.
An eastbound Norfolk Southern stack train passes beneath the eastbound home signals for CP Leets on the Fort Wayne Line in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania.
General Mythrog looked down the length of the crossbow impatiently. He had been laying in this position, on this extremely uncomfortable branch, for hours, keeping the crossbow trained on the small patch of Cheese-Blossom flowers, colonizing a branch on the opposite tree. Cheese-Blossom was an endangered species of flower, named after it’s dark-yellow color……and the fact that it tastes like moldy cheese. It’s petals, are poisonous to all but a few creatures.
Mythrog was just about to change his position again, when there was a quiet flapping sound, and the Leafed Peacock landed on the branch, and began to eat the cheese-blossom. Like the cheese-blossom, it was endangered, but for a different reason. It was extremely healthy and delicious to predators such as the Swamp Wyvern, and when cooked properly, to humans and trolls. It lived only in the Sinking Basin. Finally, Mythrog thought, aiming the crossbow. As he looked down it’s length, he smirked. There where many in Roawia, who would try to capture it, rather than kill it, so they could increase its numbers. Mythrog shook his head. I’d rather kill and eat it after all the work it took to get here. And it had taken a lot of work. After hearing from one of his scouts, that a Leafed Peacock was in the area, Mythrog and his to closest companions, Carnox and Endrol, immediately began the hunt. After two fruitless weeks, they had stumbled
across the trail of a Moss-Squirrel, another creature that eats Cheese-Blossom, and they followed the tracks. The night before the tracks had led to the tree with the patch of Cheese-Blossom, Endrol shot the Moss-Squirrel, and they ate well that night. The next morning, they broke camp, and, after finding proper hiding spots, Carnox and Endrol hid, and Mythrog threw a rock into the patch of Cheese-Blossom. The patch of flowers was actually connected by thin roots, and when one flower was disrupted they all would release a noxious smell. Though it chased away most predators, it attracted the Leafed Peacock.
After throwing the rock, Mythrog climbed up a fallen tree trunk, found a strong branch, and hid. Now, after hours of waiting, the Leafed Peacock had finally arrived. Mythrog leveled his crossbow on the birds head and…….. was just about to pull the trigger when, “BRRRAFFFFFEEEEEeee” the call of a extremely annoying horn sounded. The Leafed Peacock froze, turned and flapped away. Mythrog stared at the spot where it had been in growing anger.
“Mythrog? General Mythrog, where are you?” Called out a loud and obnoxious voice. Mythrog turned and looked down to see who had called out. He spotted a Queen’s scout running through the trees. The scout stopped beneath the tree that Mythrog was hiding in, and was about to continue running, when Endrol stepped out from his hiding spot, with a arrow nocked to his bowstring, and pointed it between the scout’s eyes. Carnox stepped out from the bush he had hid behind.
“State your name and business.” he growled in a dangerously low voice.
“My name is Loudre, and I am here because Her Majesty, the great Queen Galainir, would like to make a alliance with General Mythrog.”
Mythrog glanced around, to make sure that it was not a assassination attempt, jumped out of his hiding spot, and slid down the fallen log.
“You will address me as High General Mythrog, and how dare you come walking out here blasting on that horn, scaring away my prey! ”
“Uh sorry,” Loudre quickly regained his composure, “what prey? I didn’t see anything.”
“Just because you didn’t see anything doesn’t mean that there wasn’t something there.” Mythrog said coldly.
Loudre cleared his throat. “Could you please have your troll remove his arrow from between my eyes?”
Mythrog nodded, reluctantly, to Endrol who lowered his bow, but kept the arrow nocked.
“How did you find us?” He asked.
“I ran into a fortune-teller who is a supporter of the Queen, and she told me that you were out here hunting some kind of rare creature. Did you get it?”
“What did you think you scared away?!” Mythrog replied shocked at Loudre’s stupidity.
“Uhh sorry, the great Queen Galai—” Loudre begin again,
“I heard. Tell me more about this so-called alliance the queen wishes to make.”
“Well, the great Queen Galainir has sent a small squad, led by Sir Flork. You are to meet with them at the ruins of Fort Stinking Tree three days from now to discuss the alliance. Oh and you can’t bring more than two men with you.” said Loudre.
“It’s Sinking Tree, you moron. Give us a moment to talk about it.” He watched Loudre take several steps back, than turned around to his companions. “Well do you think we should go?”
“It could be a trap” Carnox advised.
“I know, I don’t trust Galainir, but I want to hear what her men have to say, and we can always set up a ambush.” Mythrog replied.
“Its your choice Mythrog.” Endrol said.
Mythrog thought for a moment, “here’s what were going to do. Carnox and I are going to the nearest outpost. Endrol, you are going to go find that fortune-teller, kill that traitor, take any money you find, but nothing else, burn her hut to the ground, make sure her dead body is in it, and put a troll flag in the ashes. I want anyone who finds it to know who did it. After that, meet me, and Carnox at the outpost, than the three of us, and loud-mouth here, will go to Fort Sinking Tree. A small squad of Blood Legion will go with us, on the lie that their going somewhere else. Their going to take a short-cut, and get there before the queen’s soldiers do, and hide. That way we have back-up. Do not be surprised if I decide to kill the soldiers, and declare war with Galainir.”
“I’d rather it that way. It sounds like a plan.” Carnox replied.
Endrol nodded, “I agree with Carnox.”
Mythrog nodded, and called Loudre back over.
“I agree with your terms. Carnox and I will go to Fort Sinking Tree, and discuss an alliance with Sir Flork. Hopefully we will part as friends.” he lied.
Loudre smiled “Tha….” he never got to finish his sentence, as Mythrog lunged forward, and grabbed a fist-full of the scout’s armer-studded shirt, lifting him off his feet, one handed.
“But if this is an ambush you will not live long enough to see it fail.”
He dropped Loudre on the ground, and stepped back. Loudre jumped to his feet and was about to say something, when Endrol suddenly stepped between and held up his hand.
“Its back.” He whispered.
Mythrog did not need to ask to know what ‘it’ was. He slowly turned around and looked up at the patch of Cheese-Blossom. His assumption proved correct, as the Leafed Peacock had come back to the Cheese-Blossom.
He slowly raised his crossbow, and realized that he could not take the shot from his current position. The angle was all wrong, and he wanted a head shot so’s not to damage the meat and feathers, the former because he wanted it, the latter because he could fetch a good price for them. He waved Endrol over and silently whispered, “I can’t get the shot with my crossbow, you’re going to have to take it with your bow.” Endrol nodded, and silently stepped away, pulled back his bowstring, and was about to fire, when Loudre loudly called out from behind them,
“where is it? I can’t see anything, COME OUT WHAT-EVER-YOU-ARE!”
The Leafed Peacock froze and silently flapped away, and this time, Mythrog knew it was not coming back. A shocked silence descended, as all three trolls stared at the spot were it had been, longingly. Then, as one, they turned and glared at Loudre, who was completely oblivious. “Wow I feel like a great bird-watcher, seeing such a beautiful creat….” he never got to finish, as Mythrog drove his fist into the unsuspecting gut, hard enough to send him flying several feet.
“HOW DARE YOU CHEAT ME OUT OF MY PREY…..TWICE!!!!” he bellowed, loud enough to scare away every bird for hundreds of yards.
Mythrog took several deep breaths, hauled the still wheezing Loudre to his feet, and growled, “Come on, we have a meeting to keep.”
High speed oil droplets were captured when falling from certain height and onto a steady water surface.
Because of different density, insolubility and viscosity, oil droplets exhibited some amazing characteristics when touched water surface and breached surface tension of the water.
In addition to this whole drama, I put some urban elements behind the frame to get focused through the shiny oil droplets.
Yet another hidden but interesting constituent of this composition is the glimpse of the urban elements (toy car) reflected from the shiny surface of the submerged oil on the water surface.
Since the droplets are spherical and acting as convex lens, elements kept behind the frame needed to be inverted in position to get upright focused images though droplets.
Just downstream from Torc Waterfall, Killarney, County Kerry Ireland.
The main falls were crowded with photographers, all jostling for position. Instead of doing this, I took a wander downstream, where it was more relaxing.I could have stayed here for hours.
LOGIE-BUCHAN, a parish, in the district of Ellon, county of Aberdeen, 2 miles (E. by S.) from Ellon; containing 713 inhabitants.
The word Logie, expressive of a low-lying spot, was given to this place on account of its applicability to the tract in which the church is situated; while the affix is descriptive of the position of the parish in that part of the county called Buchan.
Logie-Buchan Parish Church is located on the southern slope of the River Ythan valley, in gently rolling countryside with small fields, rough grazing and enclosures of trees. There is a narrow trackway and footbridge across the river a short distance to the north. The church stands in a sloping graveyard, bounded by a rubble wall. The large former manse is positioned to the south and the church itself closed recently and a new use had not been found when it was visited (2012).
A church here was granted to Aberdeen Cathedral by David II in 1361, while the current church was built in the late 18th century with later additions and alterations.
Description (exterior)
The church is a small, simple building with little architectural detailing. It is aligned roughly east-west and has harled, rubble walls and a slate roof. There are narrow strips of granite stone around the windows and doors. The church is rectangular on plan, with a small, gabled porch and a lean-to vestry at the west end.
The east elevation has a hipped or piended roof rather than a gable. There are two rectangular windows with simple timber tracery and small panes of leaded glass. There has clearly been alterations carried out at this end of the church, shown by two blocked openings, a doorway and window, in the centre of the east elevation.
The north elevation of the church has four equally-spaced rectangular windows, each with simple tracery and latticed glazing. The opposite south elevation has two larger rectangular windows, towards the centre, again with tracery and latticed glazing.
The west end of the church has a small, gabled porch with a rectangular doorway on the south side, which is the main entrance into the church. There is a rectangular window in the west gable of this porch and a tall chimney rises from the apex, serving a fireplace in the small lean-to vestry extension to the north of the porch. The church has a tall gable at the west end, topped by an ashlar-built bellcote, which has a stone ball finial.
Description (interior)
Some of the fittings remain in the church but are likely to be removed if and when a new use is found for the church, which is no longer in use.
People / Organisations:
Name RoleDates Notes
William RuxtonRecast the interior 1912
Robert MaxwellMade the church bell1728
Events:
Church built on site of older church (1787)
Porch and vestry added to west (1891)
Interior recast (1912)
Logie-Buchan is separated on the east from the German Ocean by the parish of Slains, and is intersected by the river Ythan.
The river abounds with various kinds of trout, also with salmon, eels, lounders, and mussels; and pearls are still occasionally found.
It has a ferry opposite the parish church, where its breadth at low water is about sixty yards; and two boats are kept, one for general passengers, and the other, a larger boat, for the conveyance of the parishioners to church from the northern side.
A tradition has long prevailed that the largest pearl in the crown of Scotland was obtained in the Ythan; and it appears that, about the middle of the last century, £100 were paid by a London jeweller to gentleman in Aberdeen, for pearls found in the river.
Most of the inhabitants of the district are employed in agricultural pursuits, a small brick-work recently established being the only exception.
The great north road from Aberdeen passes through the parish, and the mail and other public coaches travel to and fro daily. On another road, leading to the shipping-port of Newburgh, the tenantry have a considerable traffic in grain, lime, and coal, the last procured from England, and being the chief fuel.
The river Ythan is navigable for lighters often or twelve tons' burthen at high water. The marketable produce of the parish is sent to Aberdeen. Logie- Buchan is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Ellon, synod of Aberdeen, and in the patronage of Mr. Buchan.
The church was built in 1787, and contains 400 sittings.
Cemeteries - Presbyterian / Unitarian
Logie Buchan Parish Church, Logie-Buchan, Church of Scotland
The church of Logie-Buchan was dedicated to St Andrew.
St Andrew's Church was built in 1787 and has been much altered. It contains a 1728 bell.
Logie-Buchan (Aberdeen, Buchan). Also known as Logie Talargy, the church was granted by David II in 1361 to the common fund of the canons of Aberdeen cathedral, and this was confirmed to the uses of the canons by Alexander, bishop of Aberdeen in 1362, both parsonage and vicarage fruits being annexed while the cure was to become a vicarage pensionary.
Although possession was obtained by the dean and chapter, this was subsequently lost, and the church had to be re-annexed in 1437, the previous arrangement being adhered to, with both parsonage and vicarage remaining annexed.
St Andrew's Kirk, 1787. Undistinguished externally, porch 1891, inside original ceiling with Adam-like centrepiece and two-light Gothic windows, part of 1912 recasting, William Buxton. Pulpit was originally in the centre of the N wall with a horseshoe gallery bearing the Buchan coat of arms (George Reid, Peterhead, carver). Monuments to Thomas (d. 1819) and Robert (d. 1825) Buchan.
Bell, 1728, Robert Maxwell. Church bought by Captain David Buchan to ensure access and survival.
Kirkyard: plain ashlar gatepiers and rubble walls; some table tombs.
Highest Explore Position #184 ~ On January 21st 2009.
African Elephants - Colchester Z00, Colchester, Essex, England - Friday January 16th 2009.
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Well, there's now a West Ham supporter in the White House, lol...Yup...Barack Obama is a Happy Hammer ~ www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article732401.ece ~ www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2290253/Up-the-Irons--... ~ ....well, for now anyway..:O))
As these Ellies are doing, lets link together and spread joy and happiness throughout the Universe..Oh..and Upton Park..lol....:O)))
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ African elephants are the species of elephants in the genus Loxodonta, one of the two existing genera in Elephantidae. Although it is commonly believed that the genus was named by Georges Cuvier in 1825, Cuvier spelled it Loxodonte. An anonymous author romanized the spelling to Loxodonta and the ICZN recognizes this as the proper authority.
Fossil Loxodonta have only been found in Africa, where they developed in the middle Pliocene.
Size ~ African elephants are bigger than Asian elephants. Males stand 3.64 meters (12 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 5455 kg (12,000 lbs), while females stand 3 meters (10 ft) and weigh 3636 kg to 4545 kg (8,000 to 11,000 lbs).[2] However, males can get as big as 15,000 lbs (6800 kg).
Teeth ~ Elephants have four molars; each weighs about 11 lb (5.0 kg) and measures about 12 inches long. As the front pair wear down and drop out in pieces, the back pair shift forward and two new molars emerge in the back of the mouth. Elephants replace their teeth six times. At about 40 to 60 years of age the elephant no longer has teeth and will likely die of starvation, a common cause of death.
Their tusks are teeth; the second set of incisors become the tusks. They are used for digging for roots and stripping the bark off trees for food, for fighting each other during mating season, and for defending themselves against predators. The tusks weigh from 50-100 pounds and can be from 5 to 8 feet (2.4 m) long. Unlike Asian elephants, both bulls and cows have tusks. The enamel plates of the molars are lesser in number than in Asian elephants.
Species ~ Loxodonta adaurora, extinct, presumed antecedent of the modern African elephants.
African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) ~ African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).
Bush and Forest Elephants were formerly considered subspecies of the same species Loxodonta africana. However, they are nowadays generally considered to be two distinct species. The African Forest Elephant has a longer and narrower mandible, rounder ears, a different number of toenails, straighter and downward tusks, and considerably smaller size. With regard to the number of toenails: the African Bush Elephant normally has 4 toenails on the front foot and 3 on the hind feet, the African Forest Elephant normally has 5 toenails on the front foot and 4 on the hind foot (like the Asian elephant), but hybrids between the two species commonly occur.
Conservation ~ Poaching significantly reduced the population of Loxodonta in certain regions during the 20th century. An example of this poaching pressure is in the eastern region of Chad—elephant herds there were substantial as recently as 1970, with an estimated population of 400,000; however, by 2006 the number had dwindled to about 10,000. The African elephant nominally has governmental protection, but poaching is still a serious issue.
Human encroachment into or adjacent to natural areas where bush elephants occur has led to recent research into methods of safely driving groups of elephants away from humans, including the discovery that playback of the recorded sounds of angry honey bees are remarkably effective at prompting elephants to flee an area.Some elephant communities have grown so large, in Africa, that some communities have resorted to culling large amounts to help sustain the ecosystem.