Let me introduce you to a special elk that lived in South Park for the last 16 plus years. TRIPOD was a huge three legged bull elk that not only survived but THRIVED and even held a harem!
Recently it was discovered that he may have passed away and I was commissioned to do a pair of paintings for a few of his fans. The following this guy had was huge and I may have to do a few more paintings of him in his glory. After looking at him closely I am fairly sure he was born without the hind limb as opposed to him losing it in a accident. The stump looks clean and smooth and I don't seen any other signs of scars or damage to him which I think he would have is he lost the limb accidentally. I can tell from the pics I found of him that that right hind is thicker then is would have been normally, and I have to wonder if arthritis is what did him in in the end- but reports are that he may have been hit by a car which is super tragic if true.
He is so *COLORADO* to me, so tough and strong and such a symbol of all our inner strength. We all keep getting knocked down by events in our state but we come back up, limping and hurt but WINNING by god!