Draft:Ahmed the Elephant, The King of Marsabit

Ahmed
Replica of Ahmed at the National Museum of Nairobi
SpeciesAfrican Bush Elephant
Borncirca 1919
Africa
Died1974
Kenya
Known forRemarkable tusk length: 2.9 and 3 meters

Ahmed was a male African Bush Elephant, born around 1919.[1], and died in 1974[2]. The length of his tusks brought him renown[1]. Ahmed lived in the Marsabit National Park[1]. In 1970, Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta decided to place him under the permanent protection of guards (2[1] or 5[2] according to sources) to prevent the actions of poachers. This proved successful as Ahmed passed away naturally in 1974[2]. Despite his imposing size, each of his tusks weighed only about sixty kilograms[1]. His bones and tusks are preserved at the Nairobi National Museum, and a life-size replica is displayed outside the museum.

Tribute edit

A Google Doodle was dedicated to him on 6 December 2023[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ahmed the Elephant of Marsabit". AfricaHunting.com. 10 June 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c John Heminway (June 19, 2014). "Opinion: Killing of Great Tusker in Kenya Recalls Lesson From the Past". National Geographic. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  3. ^ Poiron, Yohann (December 6, 2023). "Éléphant Ahmed : le Google Doodle honore le « roi de Marsabit »". BlogNT: le Blog des Nouvelles Technologies (in French).
  4. ^ "Celebrating Ahmed the Elephant Doodle - Google Doodles". doodles.google. Retrieved December 6, 2023.