I have had the incredible opportunity to see Tim who was known as the largest tusker in Kenya in 2019. Then in February of 2020 Tim died of natural causes and is now on display in Nairobi.

I saw Craig who is his cousin on my trip this year in August. Another of the large tuskers Tolstoy died in 2021. It is sad that these huge tuskers are becoming more and more rare.

I have photos of Tim after Craig.

‘Craig’, pictured here, is one of the last of his kind. A ‘Super Tusker’; an elephant with tusks weighing more than 45kg (100Ibs) each, and perhaps one of the best known elephants alive today.

It is estimated that perhaps only 20 super tuskers remain alive today, spread between the Tsavo-Amboseli eco-system in South East Kenya. Spending time in their presence is one of the most exhilarating experiences available to a wildlife photographer, making you wonder what it must have been like to spend time on safari many decades ago when sights like this one would have been more frequent.

The key to the survival of these beautiful giants is the protection of the environment in which they live. With Kenya’s human population set to double by 2050, the competition for space is at risk of eliminating the last handful of super tuskers.

This is where organisations like David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving The Wild play such a key role. Helping to protect the last areas of wilderness available to these great creatures and ensuring the protection of the super tusker gene. Without their work, and that of many other dedicated individuals and organisations, images and sights like this remain possible, but only just.

Tolstoy, the Amboseli super tusker, has died at the age of 51, just weeks after being treated for a spear wound. Tolstoy was speared in his right front leg six weeks ago, likely by a farmer defending his crops from one of the tusker’s night-time crop-raids, according to Big Life Foundation. He was treated by joint Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)/ David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) mobile veterinary units at the time, and the teams continued to monitor him following the treatment.

I have had the incredible opportunity to see Tim who was known as the largest tusker in Kenya in 2019. Then in February of 2020 Tim died of natural causes and is now on display in Nairobi.

I saw Craig who is his cousin on my trip this year in August. Another of the large tuskers Tolstoy died in 2021. It is sad that these huge tuskers are becoming more and more rare.

I have photos of Tim after Craig.

‘Craig’, pictured here, is one of the last of his kind. A ‘Super Tusker’; an elephant with tusks weighing more than 45kg (100Ibs) each, and perhaps one of the best known elephants alive today.

It is estimated that perhaps only 20 super tuskers remain alive today, spread between the Tsavo-Amboseli eco-system in South East Kenya. Spending time in their presence is one of the most exhilarating experiences available to a wildlife photographer, making you wonder what it must have been like to spend time on safari many decades ago when sights like this one would have been more frequent.

The key to the survival of these beautiful giants is the protection of the environment in which they live. With Kenya’s human population set to double by 2050, the competition for space is at risk of eliminating the last handful of super tuskers.

This is where organisations like David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving The Wild play such a key role. Helping to protect the last areas of wilderness available to these great creatures and ensuring the protection of the super tusker gene. Without their work, and that of many other dedicated individuals and organisations, images and sights like this remain possible, but only just.

Tolstoy, the Amboseli super tusker, has died at the age of 51, just weeks after being treated for a spear wound. Tolstoy was speared in his right front leg six weeks ago, likely by a farmer defending his crops from one of the tusker’s night-time crop-raids, according to Big Life Foundation. He was treated by joint Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)/ David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) mobile veterinary units at the time, and the teams continued to monitor him following the treatment.

You are correct. Part of me feels I add to by taking the trips, but then the money spent also helps these countries to have programs that protect the wildlife. The Maasai said they never understood the wildlife which I found odd. They went on to explain how now they too want to protect the wildlife and are learning how to live with as opposed to against. They have been taught how to protect their crops etc. Yet with that said Tolstoy was killed by a poison arrow. Not poaching but due to a villager protecting his crop.
There are many good organizations helping to protect the wildlife.

Sheldrick does wonderful things for elephants and other orphaned animals. We were in Ithumba for 2 nights where the elephants are slowly re-introduced into the wild. The dedication of the handlers is something special. most only get to see their families a few times a year. These guys eat and sleep, elephants. Some times literally! We were so lucky to be a small group getting to spend time there with the feeding and elephants to ourselves. One day a bus of school kids were going on a field trip but could not reach their destination due to a river crossing. They ask if the kids could join us as many had never seen an elephant in real life! Of course we said yes and it was such fun to see these kids experience their first elephant in person. Many were afraid of them! Anyway, I could go on for ever about Kenya, Sheldrick and the people.

I have had the incredible opportunity to see Tim who was known as the largest tusker in Kenya in 2019. Then in February of 2020 Tim died of natural causes and is now on display in Nairobi.

I saw Craig who is his cousin on my trip this year in August. Another of the large tuskers Tolstoy died in 2021. It is sad that these huge tuskers are becoming more and more rare.

I have photos of Tim after Craig.

‘Craig’, pictured here, is one of the last of his kind. A ‘Super Tusker’; an elephant with tusks weighing more than 45kg (100Ibs) each, and perhaps one of the best known elephants alive today.

It is estimated that perhaps only 20 super tuskers remain alive today, spread between the Tsavo-Amboseli eco-system in South East Kenya. Spending time in their presence is one of the most exhilarating experiences available to a wildlife photographer, making you wonder what it must have been like to spend time on safari many decades ago when sights like this one would have been more frequent.

The key to the survival of these beautiful giants is the protection of the environment in which they live. With Kenya’s human population set to double by 2050, the competition for space is at risk of eliminating the last handful of super tuskers.

This is where organisations like David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving The Wild play such a key role. Helping to protect the last areas of wilderness available to these great creatures and ensuring the protection of the super tusker gene. Without their work, and that of many other dedicated individuals and organisations, images and sights like this remain possible, but only just.

Tolstoy, the Amboseli super tusker, has died at the age of 51, just weeks after being treated for a spear wound. Tolstoy was speared in his right front leg six weeks ago, likely by a farmer defending his crops from one of the tusker’s night-time crop-raids, according to Big Life Foundation. He was treated by joint Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)/ David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) mobile veterinary units at the time, and the teams continued to monitor him following the treatment.