An elephant in Kenya believed to have been Africa’s largest female tusker, has died of old age.
Named Dida, the elephant was known by many people for its long tusks and was popular with tourists.
Dida was aged between 60 and 65 years – well beyond the average life expectancy for an elephant in the wild.
Posting on Twitter attaching images of the elephant, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said:
A matriarch has rested 🐘 We are saddened by the death of Dida who was possibly Africa’s largest female Tusker and a Matriarch residing in @KWSTsavoEast National Park. She died from natural causes due to old age having lived a full life to about 60-65 years old.
Dida was truly an iconic matriarch of Tsavo and a great repository of many decades worth of knowledge.
She shepherded her herd through many seasons and challenging times. She served as both the subject of various documentaries and an iconic tourist attraction.
Those who got to know her through pictures and videos as well as those who had the exquisite pleasure of meeting her in person will remember her.
Rest Well Dida.
Dida lived in the expansive Tsavo East National Park in Kenya’s southeast, which earned her the name “the queen of Tsavo” from conservationists and tourists.
Tsavo forms the largest protected area in the wildlife-rich country.
An elephant never forgets
Conservation group Tsavo Trust described Dida as a “true embodiment of an iconic cow” who will be remembered by future generations of elephants. It posted on Facebook:
She will be better remembered … from the lessons they learned as they watched their matriarch pass her careful judgment.
An elephant never forgets.