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

Why are there only 30 super-tuskers roaming Africa – and what sets them apart from other elephants? This article first appeared on AZ Animals.

Quick shot

• super ivory An African male elephant with tusks exceeding 100 pounds (45 kilograms)

• have less than 30 The remaining Super Tuskers left.

• Craig for calm demeanor and Be patient with photographers.

• this east african brewing company appointed Craig Tusk Beer Brand Ambassador 2021.

One of Africa’s last remaining “super tusks” has died. Amboseli National Park officials reported that Craig, a long-time resident of the southern Kenya reserve, died of natural causes on January 3, 2026 at the age of 54. The park is a favorite stop for safari visitors and countless people have seen the legendary super-tusker up close over the years. Conservationists and elephant lovers around the world mourned Craig’s death.

Craig’s life and legacy

Craig is a bull elephant who has lived his entire life in the Amboseli region near the Kenyan border. He was born in January 1972 to Cassandra, a member of the CB elephant family, one of the most well-studied elephant families in Africa. He had just turned 54 when he died. He is known for his unusually calm and docile demeanor, which makes him a favorite with safari tourists and professional photographers alike. Craig often stopped to pose for photos.

Besides his peaceful demeanor, Craig is best known for his tusks. They each weigh over 100 pounds, which is rare among male elephants. The size of Craig’s tusks earned him the nickname “Super Tusker.” This also makes him deservedly chosen as the 2021 ambassador for the East African brewery beer brand Tusker. Craig is believed to be one of the largest male Super Tuskers in Africa, with only a handful left today. Craig gave birth to many calves during his long life, according to a post from the Kenya Wildlife Service on social media. This ensures that his “strong bloodline and gentle nature are passed down from generation to generation.”

What makes Super Ivory so unique?

Super Tuskers are a select group of African bull elephants with extremely long tusks. The tusks weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms) each. The tusks are long and heavy and often sweep the ground. It takes a bull elephant decades to grow such large tusks. Most “super tuskers” are between 45 and 55 years old before receiving this title. The average lifespan of an African bull elephant can reach more than 60 years, meaning a super-tusker can enjoy this status for 10 to 20 years.

Environmentalists believe there are fewer than 30 super tuskers left in all of Africa. The biggest threat to super ivory and all elephants has always been the ivory trade. Poachers value ivory very much and taking it away means the death of the elephant. Elephant conservation initiatives have been developed across Africa to monitor and protect elephants, with some focusing primarily on protecting super tusks.

Craig’s impact on elephant conservation

Craig is one of the few remaining Super Tuskers in Africa, and his fame has brought global awareness to the plight of Super Tuskers. In Amboseli National Park, home to many African elephants, the Amboseli Elephant Trust (ATE) works to ensure the long-term conservation of the species. The trust, established in 1972, monitors more than 3,500 elephants and more than 3,000 square miles (8,000 square kilometers) of parkland.

ATE also funds more than 60 community projects for Maasai women and men. A major conservation-focused program addresses livestock losses caused by elephant behavior. Historically, Maasai custom stipulated that when an elephant killed a farmer’s livestock, the elephant must be speared to death. After the program was implemented, elephant spearing deaths fell by half.

Craig’s legacy extends beyond elephant conservation. ATE also provides scholarships to promising young girls within the Amboseli community. Traditionally, girls’ education has been limited due to high tuition fees and a culture that only educates boys. Each year, the trust selects two or three young people to fund their undergraduate and postgraduate education for three years.

Craig’s conservation impact extends beyond his home park. One example is the Big Tusk Project, a partnership between the Tsavo Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service. The Big Tusker project started 13 years ago. It focuses on protecting super tusks in the protected wilderness of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks in southern Kenya. The project is dedicated to monitoring 12 animals called “Super Tuskers” that live in the park. Both air and ground teams keep a close eye on these special elephants.

More information about African elephants

The African elephant is the largest mammal on earth. The average height of a bull elephant is 11 feet at the shoulders and weighs 5 to 7 tons. Some even get bigger. Their trunks have about 150,000 muscles used for smelling, breathing, grasping, communication and drinking. An African elephant’s trunk can hold more than two gallons (8 liters) of water at a time.

Both male and female African elephants can grow tusks, but male elephants have the greatest potential. Their tusks are actually growing modified incisors. Female African elephants form small family groups with other females and spend their entire lives together. In contrast, male elephants are typically solitary animals. However, they may form temporary single groups within a few years of leaving their matrilineal family group.

Why are there only 30 super-tuskers roaming Africa – and what sets them apart from other elephants? This article first appeared on AZ Animals.