Who replaces Craig? Inside Amboseli's race for next Tusker king

The past five years have seen the deaths of some of the largest tuskers in Amboseli. These elephants roamed the southern Kenya conservation area for decades, becoming the undisputed kings of the savannah.

In February 2020, Tim, the majestic elephant who ruled the plains of Amboseli, died. He was 50 and succumbed to natural causes.

His death was a major blow not only to those who knew him well, including tourists, but also to other elephants that felt safe in his presence,” according to Cynthia Moss, the American researcher and founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE), who has led one of the world’s longest-running scientific studies on elephants.

When Moss first encountered Tim in September 1973, he was just another four-year-old elephant and had no name. Through research and observation, she determined that he belonged to the TD family, led by an old female, whom she named Teresia.

In Amboseli, elephant families are named alphabetically. Since 1972, more than 60 families comprising over 1,400 elephants have been identified and named.

Tragedy struck four years later when Tim lost his mother. In 1984, during a severe drought that ravaged the country, he also lost his grandmother, Teresia, who was likely speared by members of the local community following a crop raid.

Tim survived. “I suspect he stuck with some of the older males who taught him where to go and how to stay safe,” Moss said in a previous interview.

Tim embodied both sides of Africa’s often convoluted conservation story. His lifetime coincided with a surge in poaching across the continent. His long tusks, weighing 132 kilogrammes, would have been irresistible to those who saw expensive carvings in them. Yet he was also the big bull known for developing a fondness for tomatoes, leading younger bulls on farm raids in Kimana on the peripheries of Amboseli before retreating to the safety of the park.

Last week, another giant fell. Craig, a 54-year-old tusker, died near the park of natural causes.

Following Tim’s death, Craig stole the spotlight in Amboseli—first for his magnificent tusks, which weighed 122 kilogrammes, and later for his calm demeanour that made him a favourite among visitors. Like Tim, Craig was one of the most photographed elephants in Africa.

Wildlife enthusiasts have since called on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to preserve Craig’s tusks at the local museum near Amboseli, saying the gesture would create a powerful learning hub for local youth interested in conservation.

Isaac Sayioki of Donate a Pad has urged KWS and the National Museums of Kenya to designate a permanent display for the tusks at the Maasai Heritage Museum in Lemong’o, Amboseli. He said placing the tusks at the museum would ensure Craig’s story “stays where it belongs—with the people who protected him.” He added that the display would provide a world-class historical reference point for tourists visiting the region.

“We understand that the management of such trophies involves strict security protocols. We are prepared to work closely with KWS to ensure the exhibition meets all safety and conservation standards,” Sayioki said. “Our goal is to create a landmark educational site within the heart of the community that coexisted with Craig for over 50 years.”

However, KWS has yet to decide whether Craig’s tusks will be preserved for posterity, as was done for Ahmed, the legendary Marsabit tusker who died in 1974 at the age of 55.

With Craig’s exit, the question remains: who will rise to become the next king of Amboseli? According to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, several giants are waiting in the wings.

Pascal

Pascal was born in 1980 to the PC family, once led by the matriarch Penelope. According to ATE, most calves in this family had matured by 1993.

Apart from Pascal, others included Pierre, Paolo and Pinocchio, all of whom eventually became independent males, following a path similar to Tim and Craig.

“They were sexually mature, but they had to wait until they were about 30 years old before they had a hope of mating with females. In the meantime, they were making friends with other males, practising their fighting skills, and learning who was dominant or subordinate,” ATE stated.

As his tusks continue to grow, Pascal is among the bulls to watch in Amboseli.

Michael

Michael was born in 1991 to the MA family, first sighted and photographed by Moss and her team on March 26, 1975. ATE researchers say the family had three adult females—Mariana, Mabel and Marcia.

“Mariana was definitely the matriarch, acting as the leader and defender of the group,” they noted. She was likely born in 1945.

Michael was just seven years old when his mother, Mabel, died. Researchers believe he may have left the family “at a younger-than-average age, probably because his mother was no longer there and his male companions had already left.”

Having learned independence early, Michael is firmly in the race to succeed Craig.

Esau

In April 1974, Moss and her team fitted radio collars on several females, among them the famed matriarch Echo, named after the sound of her collar. These females formed the EB family. Echo would go on to become the most documented matriarch in Amboseli.

In January 1990, Moss, together with producer Marion Zunz and cameraman-photographer Martyn Colbeck, began a 19-year film project titled Echo of the Elephants, with Echo as its main character. This was followed by Echo II in 1992 and Echo III in the early 2000s.

Echo, who was well into her 60s when she died in May 2009, had a sister named Ella. Ella gave birth to a male calf in December 1990. He was named Esau.

However, Esau’s future, and that of other upcoming bulls, is under threat following Tanzania’s decision to allow sport hunting.

To protect these tuskers, researchers in Amboseli have begun collaring adult males to track their movements, particularly near the border. Esau—“who had turned into one of the most beautiful adults”—was the first to be collared.

“For now, he seems to be safe,” the researchers said, “but we worry about him and others.”

If he avoids cross-border danger, the 35-year-old Esau is well on his way to claiming the kingship.

Adonis

Adonis was born in 1983, but unlike the others, his family is unknown. Researchers refer to him as an “X” male.

“We believe he is from Amboseli, but he was first recorded by our team in 2011,” they said. They suspect he left his family for many years after becoming independent and mingled with other elephants, making it difficult to trace him through available teenage male photographs.

Either way, the 43-year-old Adonis has had ample time to master the ecosystem and remains a strong contender for the next king of Amboseli.