Worlds largest tusker (elephant): We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was huge and magnificent! This is one time they let us out of the vehicle to take photos. The last photo...

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was huge and magnificent! This is one time they let us out of the vehicle to take photos. The last photo is me with the driver right by my side! Taken by one of the others in our group.

Tim and Amboseli Elephants by the Numbers
Tim is 11 feet tall and weighs over 12,000 lbs.
The 150,000 bundles of muscle fibers in Tim’s trunk can lift about 800 lbs.
Amboseli is home to about 10% of all of the elephants in Kenya with 1657 individuals (865 females, 792 males) at the end of December 2017.
Some 250 armed guards roam the park and keep tabs on the elephants.
To be classified as a “tusker,” an elephant needs to have tusks that are longer than 5 feet and weigh more than 100 lbs per tusk.
There are only about 40 “Giant Tuskers” left on earth and Tim may be the largest.
Tim and Human Interaction

Even though Tim is an easy going elephant, he is also a naughty boy when it comes to eating tomatoes from nearby farmlands. He and his family grew up outside of the park boundaries in Kimana, and the lush vegetation is perfect for elephants, but also for farmers. Tim developed a taste for farmed foods, and as he has grown older, he continues to wander out of the park, and it’s protection for his beloved tomatoes.
In 2016 the researchers needed to add more protection for Tim and to curtail his trips to the farmers market in Kimana, and so he was given a GPS collar. The authorities are alert to his location at all times and mobilize security to the farmlands when Tim decides he needs a tomato fix.
In 2014, Tim survived attempted poaching via a poisoned spear attack. A team of rangers found Tim and were able to cure the nasty infection of the spear attack.
Who says an elephant never forgets? In 2016, Tim was again wounded by a spear and a blow to the head by a huge rock hurled by angry farmers. Tim did what every intelligent being would do and took himself to the medical facilities to get himself fixed up!

In December 2018 Tim got himself stuck in the mud! Yes, a 6-ton behemoth was nearly killed by getting himself stuck in the mud. It took teams of rescuers, a bulldozer and two land rovers to pull the big boy out safely.
How Did Tim Get His Dumb Name

In the mid 1970s the first research of the Amboseli elephants was begun. To make things easy for the researchers they named each of the elephant families with a two letter code starting with the letter T, like TA, TB, etc. Then each elephant was given a name that began with the letter T. Thus the son of Trista and grandmother of the indomitable Teresia became, Tim.
Even though Tim is a rather dumb name for an elephant, it does seem to match his laissez-faire attitude and lumbering gate.

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JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Very nice photos; good story to compliment; and a beautiful animal.

GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

What an incredible animal. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos and the background.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Photolady2014 wrote:

We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was huge and magnificent! This is one time they let us out of the vehicle to take photos. The last photo is me with the driver right by my side! Taken by one of the others in our group.

Tim and Amboseli Elephants by the Numbers
Tim is 11 feet tall and weighs over 12,000 lbs.
The 150,000 bundles of muscle fibers in Tim’s trunk can lift about 800 lbs.
Amboseli is home to about 10% of all of the elephants in Kenya with 1657 individuals (865 females, 792 males) at the end of December 2017.
Some 250 armed guards roam the park and keep tabs on the elephants.
To be classified as a “tusker,” an elephant needs to have tusks that are longer than 5 feet and weigh more than 100 lbs per tusk.
There are only about 40 “Giant Tuskers” left on earth and Tim may be the largest.
Tim and Human Interaction

Even though Tim is an easy going elephant, he is also a naughty boy when it comes to eating tomatoes from nearby farmlands. He and his family grew up outside of the park boundaries in Kimana, and the lush vegetation is perfect for elephants, but also for farmers. Tim developed a taste for farmed foods, and as he has grown older, he continues to wander out of the park, and it’s protection for his beloved tomatoes.
In 2016 the researchers needed to add more protection for Tim and to curtail his trips to the farmers market in Kimana, and so he was given a GPS collar. The authorities are alert to his location at all times and mobilize security to the farmlands when Tim decides he needs a tomato fix.
In 2014, Tim survived attempted poaching via a poisoned spear attack. A team of rangers found Tim and were able to cure the nasty infection of the spear attack.
Who says an elephant never forgets? In 2016, Tim was again wounded by a spear and a blow to the head by a huge rock hurled by angry farmers. Tim did what every intelligent being would do and took himself to the medical facilities to get himself fixed up!

In December 2018 Tim got himself stuck in the mud! Yes, a 6-ton behemoth was nearly killed by getting himself stuck in the mud. It took teams of rescuers, a bulldozer and two land rovers to pull the big boy out safely.
How Did Tim Get His Dumb Name

In the mid 1970s the first research of the Amboseli elephants was begun. To make things easy for the researchers they named each of the elephant families with a two letter code starting with the letter T, like TA, TB, etc. Then each elephant was given a name that began with the letter T. Thus the son of Trista and grandmother of the indomitable Teresia became, Tim.
Even though Tim is a rather dumb name for an elephant, it does seem to match his laissez-faire attitude and lumbering gate.

We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was ... (show quote)

Pretty big boy.
In the past (50's) the record elephant from Kenya was 13' at the shoulder and 24,000 lbs so Tim probably will get taller with a good diet and long life.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Nice, very interesting shots.
Thanks for posting.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Photolady2014 wrote:

We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was huge and magnificent! This is one time they let us out of the vehicle to take photos. The last photo is me with the driver right by my side! Taken by one of the others in our group.

Tim and Amboseli Elephants by the Numbers
Tim is 11 feet tall and weighs over 12,000 lbs.
The 150,000 bundles of muscle fibers in Tim’s trunk can lift about 800 lbs.
Amboseli is home to about 10% of all of the elephants in Kenya with 1657 individuals (865 females, 792 males) at the end of December 2017.
Some 250 armed guards roam the park and keep tabs on the elephants.
To be classified as a “tusker,” an elephant needs to have tusks that are longer than 5 feet and weigh more than 100 lbs per tusk.
There are only about 40 “Giant Tuskers” left on earth and Tim may be the largest.
Tim and Human Interaction

Even though Tim is an easy going elephant, he is also a naughty boy when it comes to eating tomatoes from nearby farmlands. He and his family grew up outside of the park boundaries in Kimana, and the lush vegetation is perfect for elephants, but also for farmers. Tim developed a taste for farmed foods, and as he has grown older, he continues to wander out of the park, and it’s protection for his beloved tomatoes.
In 2016 the researchers needed to add more protection for Tim and to curtail his trips to the farmers market in Kimana, and so he was given a GPS collar. The authorities are alert to his location at all times and mobilize security to the farmlands when Tim decides he needs a tomato fix.
In 2014, Tim survived attempted poaching via a poisoned spear attack. A team of rangers found Tim and were able to cure the nasty infection of the spear attack.
Who says an elephant never forgets? In 2016, Tim was again wounded by a spear and a blow to the head by a huge rock hurled by angry farmers. Tim did what every intelligent being would do and took himself to the medical facilities to get himself fixed up!

In December 2018 Tim got himself stuck in the mud! Yes, a 6-ton behemoth was nearly killed by getting himself stuck in the mud. It took teams of rescuers, a bulldozer and two land rovers to pull the big boy out safely.
How Did Tim Get His Dumb Name

In the mid 1970s the first research of the Amboseli elephants was begun. To make things easy for the researchers they named each of the elephant families with a two letter code starting with the letter T, like TA, TB, etc. Then each elephant was given a name that began with the letter T. Thus the son of Trista and grandmother of the indomitable Teresia became, Tim.
Even though Tim is a rather dumb name for an elephant, it does seem to match his laissez-faire attitude and lumbering gate.

We had the privilege of photographing Tim, he was ... (show quote)

Fantastic.
Thanks for sharing

NMGal Loc: NE NM

A wonderful story and series. Thanks so much for posting.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Well Tim certainly is a grand creature. I like tomatoes also, so we have something in common. Nice images. Well done.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Wonderful shots-very well done! Such magnificent creatures!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

An excellent set. Thanks for the narrative, too.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

What a wonderful experience!! Thanks for sharing

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

What a beautiful Animal! I have heard that Amboseli is the place to see the big tuskers. I'm going to be in Kenya in February but we won't go to Amboseli, I guess that will be a good reason to go again sometime.
I also heard that "Tim" has a full time personal body guard team. What has the world come to?

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

What an amazing, wonderful experience. And Tim is a fantastic beast! Your photos are beautiful of him.

justhercamera Loc: NW Michigan

He is just beautiful!!! Your story, and the extra photo supplied of you taking the photographs really adds to it all!! I have been enjoying your photos!

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Terrific photos!