![]() While officials are not treating the elk's death as suspicious, park rangers are now investigating the illegal removal of Kahuna's skull and antler from his carcass.Īccording to a statement, the removal of the body parts likely occurred some time between March 20 and March 22. ![]() ![]() There had been reports the animal had been injured during last year's mating season and he appeared "very underweight" this February. Park officials later said that the elk is thought to have died of natural causes. "Being the first to place a hand on his magnificent antler (one had already been shed) was humbling," they said. The husband and wife team said the elk had likely been taken down by a mountain lion, given that there were tracks in the area he was found. ![]() Subsequently, they made the unfortunate discovery that the animal had passed away. The duo said they had last seen the bull alive on March 7 before a storm rolled in and they lost his location. "We're sad to announce the passing of perhaps the most iconic elk in history," Good Bull Outdoors said in a Facebook post published on March 21. An iconic elk in northern Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park (not pictured) has had its skull and antler removed illegally after dying. In addition to Coombs, members of the Kahuna Memorial Project Steering Committee include Dawn Wilson, Bill and Patti Brown, Elizabeth Edwards Clark, Barb Prentiss-Davis, Sherrie Fuller, Dawn Hatch, Andrea Hauger, Brad Manard, Steve Neilson and Kimberly Youngerman.Stock image showing a large elk bull. 7, created 25 years ago by sculptor Carol Cunningham to memorialize Samson, a bull elk that had been killed by a poacher. The grassroots, all-volunteer team will solicit proposals from sculptors for commissioning of the life-sized memorial, and work with the town of Estes to determine the memorial location, the release stated.Įstes Park has another memorial elk sculpture already in place at U.S. McClanahan is credited with giving the animal the name Kahuna, according to the release. “His bugle was sharp and crisp which along with his huge antlers and massive body attracted many cows to his harem during the rut while other bulls kept their distance,” he said. “Kahuna sported a huge rack with long, wide main beams but his third points made him most recognizable each year,” said Fred McClanahan, Jr., a photographer from Fort Collins who followed the iconic elk for more than five years. The elk, nicknamed Kahuna, Bruno, Incredibull and Big Thirds, was one of the largest elk in North America, with an estimated weight of 1,000 pounds and one of the largest antler rankings recorded, with seven points on each side during his prime years, according to the news release. “We want to preserve Kahuna’s legacy by dedicating a memorial that will tell his story and inspire future generations to visit and watch for his many descendants,” he said.Īs of Sunday night, $8,820 had been contributed by 33 donors. “Kahuna was a magnificent elk that captured the imagination of nature lovers and photographers from around the world,” John Coombs, chair of the Kahuna Memorial Project Steering Committee, said. The team hopes to have the memorial installed in time for the 2023 tourist peak season. The elk died in March after a long life as one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s most notable elk, often seen in Moraine Park, the release stated. The Kahuna Memorial Project Steering Committee announced in a news release that it will work with the Art Center of Estes Park to raise $150,000 for the memorial to the well-known bull elk Kahuna. (Jeff Coldwell / Special to the Reporter-Herald) ESTES PARK, CO – Undated: A photo by Jeff Coldwell shows the elk called Kahuna that was well known in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Organizers in Estes Park have announced plans to commission a sculpture to remember an elk that died recently in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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