Akashinga mourns the passing of Craig, one of Africa’s most iconic super tusker elephants, whose presence in Amboseli National Park came to symbolise resilience, majesty, and the enduring spirit of wild Africa.
For decades, Craig moved calmly across the Amboseli landscape, his immense tusks — among the largest remaining on the continent — nearly brushing the earth. He was more than a singular elephant; he was a living emblem of what remains possible when protection, community stewardship, and respect for wildlife are sustained. In a time when elephants bearing tusks of Craig’s magnitude have become heartbreakingly rare, his survival stood as quiet defiance against poaching and habitat loss.
Craig’s life reminded us that conservation success is measured not only in statistics, but in individuals — beings whose continued existence carries cultural, ecological, and emotional significance. Generations of rangers, researchers, photographers, and community members knew him by sight. To many Kenyans and to the global conservation community, Craig represented hope: that with vigilance, partnership, and commitment, elephants can still live long lives on their own terms.
His passing marks the close of a powerful chapter. It also sharpens our responsibility. As super tuskers disappear, so too does an irreplaceable genetic and ecological legacy. Honouring Craig means renewing our resolve to protect elephants, secure vital landscapes, and stand with the communities and frontline rangers who safeguard them every day.
Craig walked gently, lived fully, and left an indelible mark on the land and on all who were privileged to know of him.
May he rest in peace, and may his legacy strengthen our collective commitment to the future of elephants.
