Three Big Tuskers Killed
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Big Tusker Craig
I am devastated to learn a third Big Tusker was killed recently by trophy hunters in Tanzania. I do not understand what motivates someone to kill a magnificent, endangered animal as a trophy. These animals are global treasures. More importantly, they are valuable members of elephant society and represent a unique gene pool in the Amboseli region. These bulls are closely guarded by rangers in Kenya, but they live free and range across the border into neighbouring Tanzania.
Big Tusker Veronsky in musth January 2024
I was very encouraged to see several large bulls coming into their prime when on safari in January. Thankfully these mammoths survived the devastating drought of the past three years. They looked healthy and strong after recent rains. It was a thrill to see them come to the water hole at our lodge to enjoy daily mud baths.
The elephants of the Amboseli region are habituated to vehicles and people. The trust that has developed over the past couple of decades now puts them at risk when they cross into Tanzania. Tanzania is ignoring a 30-year agreement with Kenya not to kill these animals. The government is also betraying the local people who depend on tourism dollars to survive and co-exist with wildlife.
A recent article in Africa Geographic lists several reasons why targeting Big Tuskers is ill advised.
The debate on justification for sport-hunting elephants continues, and government policies vary widely across Africa. However, there are specific reasons why targeting ‘super-tuskers’ is ill-advised:
Genetic scarcity: Following centuries of selective removal by the ivory trade (legal and poached) and trophy hunters, genes for large tusks are becoming increasingly rare, as evidenced by the scarcity of big-tusked elephants. There are estimated to be between 50 and 100 elephants remaining in Africa with one tusk weighing 100 pounds or more.
Breeding value: Long-term research has shown that males between 40–54 years (which have the largest tusks) have the highest reproductive success.
“Elephant males continue to go through yearly musth cycles well into their 50s. When they are in musth, they roam far and wide to find females for mating,” said Moss.
She further explained:
“Females exercise choice, and they prefer to mate with older males in musth. Elephant males only start coming into musth in their late 20s, but it is the older males in their 40s and 50s that the females choose. Elephants grow throughout their lifetime, and their tusks grow faster in their last decade of life. When a female chooses a mate, she chooses one for his age, which indicates health and robustness. These older males have proven their genetic quality because they have survived to an older age. We have no indication that the females are choosing males with larger tusks. However, the larger tusks are an advantage to a male in a fight.”
Veronsky checks out matriarch and her family looking for a female in estrous.
Social value: Older bulls are also important in elephant society for their control of behaviour in younger bulls. Older male elephants – whether they have big tusks or not – are important to other, younger males in teaching and setting examples. They are also important friends and companions to other elephants.
Craig is accompanied by a younger body guard
Economic value: The Greater Amboseli Ecosystem contains some of the most economically valuable and best-known elephants on the planet – like Craig – that are a primary attraction for tourists to the Greater Amboseli Ecosystem and a pillar of an industry which generates millions of dollars in revenue every year. The trophy fee to hunt the largest category of elephant in Tanzania is approximately $20,000. The average elephant’s lifetime value from attracting tourists is estimated at $1,607,625 – while the value of a large-tusked individual would be much higher. Killing one of the last remaining giant elephants on Earth for the benefit of one hunting operator and client appears to be a huge waste of revenue opportunity, aside from other important conservation issues discussed here.
Ethical considerations: The debate about sport-hunting a highly social, long-lived, intelligent animal continues. However, these questions are amplified in this context when the elephants being killed are extremely habituated and trusting due to good protection and frequent interactions with tourists.
I am terrified Tanzania’s trophy hunting policies will impact generations to come –in both human and elephant society. These animals re IRREPLACEABLE. They must be protected. If you want to help consider donating to Big Life. They are on the ground protecting elephants, their habitat and the people who co-exist with them. Donations support the work of those who know best how to work with government, local stakeholders, and conservation efforts.