Kenya: Tim, one of the last ‘tusker’ elephants dies

Tim, an African elephant that gained notoriety for crop-raiding, has died in Amboseli National Park, aged 50.

The Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) said he died of natural causes, and was “well known and loved throughout the country”.

Tim was infamous for his tendency to crop-raid farms surrounding the national park, leading him to be speared three times during his lifetime.

In an effort to protect both the elephant and the crops of local farmers, KWS collared him, so they could track his movements.

If he started heading in the direction of a farm, KWS would dispatch a team to intercept him, though he soon learned to bypass them.

The first year he wore the collar he was recorded trying to crop raid 183 times, which he was prevented from doing around half the time, according to Save the Elephants, a charity.

Ryan Wilkie, a former field assistant for Save the Elephants, said “Tim was a special elephant – not just to me but to hundreds, thousands of people who would flock to Amboseli just for the chance to see him.

He was so incredibly intelligent, mischievous, yes, but also a truly gentle giant and in that way a real ambassador for his species”.

African elephants are known as ‘tuskers’ because their tusks can grow so long they reach the ground.

Tim’s tusks reportedly weighed more than 45kg each.

KWS will send his body to a taxidermist in Nairobi so it can be out on display for tourists and members of the public to see.

Photo: Ryan Wilkie/Save the Elephants