Watching Craig and his four young bodyguards browse on thorny acacia bushes was a fascinating lesson in elephant nutrition and etiquette.
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I spotted dozens of dust devils dancing across the flat Amboseli plain as our 12-seater plane banked and turned to prepare for landing. Amboseli has been alive in my imagination since I left in January 2020. The elephants that call this region home transformed my life focus 2.5 years ago.
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The world has lost another Big Tusker. These animals represent a group of African elephants with huge tusks unique to the Amboseli and Tsavo regions of southern Kenya.
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Elephant species have survived on the planet for 55 million years. Whereas our ancestors have walked the earth for only 6 million. Elephants have similar social structures to humans and show clear signs of emotional intelligence. When dealing with interpersonal conflict, raising families, and caring for the earth humans would be wise to consider “What would the elephants do?”
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What do elephants and avocados have in common? They both need land to survive. The major difference? Avocados can grow in locations outside of Amboseli in Kenya while two thousand of the world’s genetically unique elephants cannot. Significant threats pressure this pocket of remaining wilderness in East Africa–population growth, agriculture, and climate change.
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I saw a tiny form tucked in amongst the elephants. The herd travelled several kilometers across the Amboseli plain and paused for a mud bath where we strategically parked midway on their route to water. The matriarch turned towards us, like a crossing guard to ensure safe passage for the little one when the elephants continued on and crossed the road.
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The sense that the endless procession of elephants was for my personal growth? I balked at the thought—to claim such sacred moment for myself felt egotistical. Yet that’s how it felt. … My time in Amboseli continues to speak to me, like a dream that is so big that it refuses to let me forget and slip back into unconsciousness.
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I know stories of elephants mourning. I know they visit the bones of their family members where they have died. I’ve seen the skulls, been told how the elephants touch them, smell them with their trunks. I’ve heard about elephant mothers that stand by a baby’s corpse for days. I’ve heard how elephants will try to lift up a recently dead family member, how they call out, trumpet, and shuffle around the body.
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I was awestruck – these elephants were HUGE. We were so CLOSE! “I’ll see if I can get closer,” said Julius. “Closer?!” the danger signal in my brain squeaked, as Julius navigated through the bushes to the other side of the tree revealing Tim in full view. The huge bulls gazed at us, nonplussed by the intrusion, eventually sauntering out into the open to graze.
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The Big Tusker Tim is dead. I am shocked and heartbroken. On January 7th, I flew to Amboseli following my dream of seeing the Big Tuskers of Amboseli, Kenya’s largest elephants. Images of Tim, a massive elephant of 6+ tons, a global celebrity and icon for wildlife protection, fueled my imagination…
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