Taking a look at the jaw, skull and other bones of the animal, we were able to determine it was a male elephant in it's mid years. It did not die of old age (and as far as we could tell, it was not shot). Elephants cycle through 7 sets of teeth in their lifetime, roughly one set every 6-10 years depending on the nature of the good they are eating. Most elephants die of starvation in their old age after the last set if teeth decay, and they are no longer able to eat. As you can see in the jaw of this animal, the teeth are not completely worn down, and new molars are forming in the back of the jaw.
(Hey Kate, you proud of your old buddy for some good bone talk??? Don't worry, I'm not gonna quit my day job anytime soon!)
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