Amboseli’s iconic tusker Craig dies at 54
Craig, one of Africa’s largest remaining tuskers and a major tourism draw in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, died on 4 January aged 54, according to Big Life Foundation. The organisation said his death was likely due to age-related complications from severely worn molars, with a necropsy pending, and noted that field teams stayed with him until the end.
Known for his calm temperament around people and extraordinary tusks, Craig was among the most photographed elephants in Africa and lived largely peacefully alongside neighbouring communities. With big tuskers increasingly rare due to historic poaching and trophy hunting, his long life and natural death reflect conservation gains in the Amboseli ecosystem, while his loss underscores the need for sustained efforts to protect remaining elephants central to East Africa’s wildlife tourism.
Source: Daily Nation
