A famous bull elk at Rocky Mountain National Park who was known for his spectacular antlers has died.
The elk, known as "Bruno," "Kahuna" and "Incredibull," was found dead by wildlife photographers who came across his carcass after it had been eaten.
Loren Schrag, who has been posting pictures of the elk to his Good Bull Outdoors Facebook page since 2018, told CBS4 he located the animal's remains earlier this week. He believes it was killed by a mountain lion.
"The tracks were pretty clear," Schrag said. "No claws."
The elk was hurt by another male during last year's mating season and his injuries may have made him vulnerable to predators, Schrag added.
"When we last saw him alive on [March 7] he was still limping and wasn't putting weight on his front left leg," he said. "We thought he'd make it through the winter, despite his injuries."
The bull's exact age isn't known but wildlife experts believe he was over 10-years-old. According to Schrag's unofficial antler measurements, the elk is possibly the fifth largest typical Rocky Mountain Bull Elk in the record book.
The park did not post messages on its social platforms about the death. However, National Park Service spokesperson Kyle Patterson did confirm that the animal was dead.
"His cause of death is unknown," Patterson told NBC News. "He could have died from natural causes or been preyed on by a mountain lion."
Patterson added that the park service was keeping the location of the elk's carcass a secret because they don't want to draw visitors to the spot.
"The public should always be cautious around carcasses -- elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep -- in Rocky Mountain National Park, because mountain lions could be nearby," she said.
Free roaming elk can weigh up to 1,100 pounds and have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years. The park's elk population is estimated between 600 and 800 animals.
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