When that happens they are never recovered again.

The elephant _does_ cast his tusks, but only in the juvenile state, when they are not bigger than lobster's claws; and the pair that succeeds these is permanent, and has to last him for life--perhaps _for centuries_--for no one can tell how long the mighty elephant roams over this sublunary planet.

When the tusks get broken--a not uncommon thing--he must remain toothless or "tuskless" for the rest of his life.
Although the elephant may consider the loss of his huge tusks a great calamity, were he only a little wiser, he would break them off against the first tree.

It would, in all probability, be the means of prolonging his life; for the hunter would not then consider him worth the ammunition it usually takes to kill him.
After a short consultation among the hunters, Swartboy started off upon the spoor, followed by Von Bloom and Hendrik.

It led straight out from the channel, and across the jungle.
Usually the bushes mark the course of an elephant, where these are of the sort he feeds upon.