03/01/2026
† Craig the Elephant (1972 – January 3, 2026)
Super Tusker of Amboseli National Park
With heavy hearts, wildlife stewards, conservationists, and lovers of the natural world mourn the passing of Craig, one of Africa’s last great Super Tuskers, who died this morning. Although details surrounding his final moments are still emerging, Craig’s legacy as a gentle giant of the savannah is indisputable.
Born around 1972, Craig grew into one of the most iconic elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem, a place celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and deep wildlife heritage. As a Super Tusker — an exceptionally rare African elephant bull with tusks exceeding 100 lbs each — he was remarkable not only for his size and strength but for his calm and welcoming demeanor, traits that endeared him to the Maasai communities, park rangers, researchers, photographers, and safari-goers from around the world.
Craig’s enormous tusks, nearly touching the Kenyan earth as he walked, were more than just physical attributes — they were living symbols of a lineage almost lost to time. Super Tuskers are estimated to number only a few dozen across Africa, a stark testament to how close these magnificent animals have come to the brink due to poaching and habitat pressures.
Throughout his life Craig played an important role in elephant society — roaming the plains, imparting subtle guidance to younger bulls, and carrying forward the genetic heritage of long-tusked elephants in an age when so few remain. He stood as a reminder of the majesty of wild Africa and the delicate balance that sustains it.
Craig’s presence on the plains will be deeply missed, but his memory will continue to inspire conservation efforts across Kenya and beyond. In honoring his life, may we renew our commitment to protecting the last of the Super Tuskers and the wild lands they call home.
Rest in peace, Craig — King of the Tuskers.
