Why Only 30 Super Tuskers Roam Africa—And What Sets Them Apart From All Other Elephants

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Quick Take

• Super tuskers are African bull elephants that have tusks in excess of 100 pounds (45 kg)

• There are fewer than 30 remaining super tuskers left.

• Craig was known globally due to his calm demeanor and patience with photographers.

• The East African Brewing Company appointed Craig as its Tusker beer brand ambassador in 2021.

One of Africa’s last remaining “Super Tuskers” has passed away. Officials from the Amboseli National Park reported that Craig, a longtime resident of the protected area in southern Kenya, died of natural causes on January 3, 2026, at the age of 54. The park is a favorite stop for safari tourists, and countless individuals have seen this legendary super tusker up close over the years. Craig’s passing is mourned by conservationists and elephant lovers around the world.

Craig’s Life and Legacy

Craig was a bull elephant who lived his entire life in the Amboseli region, near the Kenyan border. He was born in January 1972 to Cassandra of the CB elephant family, one of the most well-studied elephant families in Africa. He had just turned 54 at the time of his death. He was renowned for his exceptionally calm and docile demeanor, which made him a favorite for safari tourists and professional photographers. Craig would often pause and pose for photos.

Besides his peaceful demeanor, Craig was most famous for his tusks. Their weight, over 100 pounds each, is a rarity among bull elephants. The size of his tusks earned Craig the “Super Tusker” title. It also made him a natural to be selected as the ambassador for the East African Brewery’s lager brand, Tusker, in 2021. Craig was believed to be one of Africa’s largest male Super Tuskers, only a handful of which remain today. During his long life, Craig fathered a number of calves, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service in a social media post. This ensures his “powerful bloodline and gentle character live on across generations.”

What Makes Super Tuskers Unique?

Super Tuskers are a select group of African bull elephants that have exceptionally long ivory tusks. These tusks weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kg) each. The tusks are so long and heavy that they often sweep the ground. It takes decades for a bull elephant to develop tusks that size. Most Super Tuskers are between 45 and 55 years old before they earn the title. African bull elephants live, on average, until their mid-60s, meaning a Super Tusker could enjoy that status for 10 to 20 years.

Conservationists believe there are fewer than 30 Super Tuskers left across all of Africa. The biggest threat to Super Tuskers, and all elephants, has always been the ivory trade. Poachers highly prize elephant tusks, and taking them means the elephant dies. Conservation protection initiatives are in place to monitor and protect elephants across Africa, including some focused primarily on the preservation of Super Tuskers.

Craig’s Impact On Elephant Conservation

Craig was one of the few Super Tuskers left in Africa, and his fame helped bring global awareness to the plight of Super Tuskers. Within Amboseli National Park, home to many of Africa’s elephants, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) works to ensure the long-term conservation of the species. The Trust, established in 1972, monitors more than 3,500 elephants and over 3,000 square miles (8,000 km²) of parkland.

The ATE has also funded more than 60 community programs for Maasai women and men. One important conservation-focused program addressed the loss of livestock caused by elephant behavior. Historically, Maasai custom dictated that when an elephant kills a farmer’s livestock, the elephant must be speared and killed. After the program’s implementation, the number of elephant spearing deaths dropped by half.

Craig’s legacy extends beyond elephant conservation. The ATE also funds scholarships for promising young girls within the Amboseli communities. Traditionally, girls’ education was limited due to high fees and a culture that favors only educating boys. Each year, the Trust selects two to three young people and provides them with three years of funding for undergraduate and graduate-level education.

Craig’s conservation impact extended beyond his home park. The Big Tusker Project, a collaboration between the Tsavo Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service, is one example. The Big Tusker project was started 13 years ago. It focuses on protecting Super Tuskers in the protected wilderness of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks in southern Kenya. The project works to monitor the 12 named Super Tuskers living in the park areas. Both aerial and ground teams keep a watchful eye on these special elephants.

More About African Elephants

African elephants are the largest mammals on the planet. Bull elephants average 11 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between five and seven tons. Some grow even larger. Their trunks have around 150,000 muscles, which they use for smelling, breathing, grasping, communication, and drinking. An African elephant can hold over two gallons (8 liters) of water at a time in its trunk.

Both male and female African elephants can grow tusks, but it is the bull elephant whose tusks have the potential to grow the largest. Their tusks are actually modified incisor teeth that grow continuously. Female African elephants form small family herds with other females and spend their lives together. Bull elephants, by contrast, are typically solitary animals. However, they may form temporary bachelor groups in the immediate years after they leave the matriarchal family groups.

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