Overview
- Amboseli Trust for Elephants and Big Life Foundation announced the death, confirmed by Kenya Wildlife Service, in the early hours of January 3 in the Olgulului community area.
- Rangers stayed with Craig through the night as he collapsed repeatedly, and at 03:32 he lay down and could not rise.
- Conservation veterinarians observed poorly chewed plant material suggesting he could no longer grind food properly, with a full post-mortem still pending.
- Craig was among the few remaining super tuskers, defined by tusks over 45 kilograms each, and he was a calm tourism draw adopted by East African Breweries’ Tusker brand in 2021.
- Officials cite his long life as a conservation success as Kenya’s elephant population grew from 36,280 in 2021 to 42,072 in 2025, even as habitat loss and historical poaching continue to pose risks.