An elephant (illustration). - SUPERSTOCK / SUPERSTOCK / SIPA

Tim, one of the largest elephants in Africa, died on Tuesday at the age of 50 in Kenya, the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) announced on Wednesday. The pachyderm had giant tusks, which touched the ground.

The elephant died of natural causes in the park of Amboseli, in the south of the country, facing Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). His body will be transported to Nairobi where it will be stuffed for display at the national museum, said the KWS press release.

RIP Tim. Kenya lost a giant today. An elephant bull of 50 years old, he died of natural causes. He was a daily reminder that we share this earth with giants who are more impressive and far more beneficial to the health of the planet than we can ever hope to be. pic.twitter.com/dh7SmYYluy

- Sheldrick Wildlife (@SheldrickTrust) February 5, 2020

Increasingly short defenses

Tim had survived attacks from angry poachers and farmers. He had already been treated by KWS veterinarians after a spear pierced his ear and broke in his shoulder.

I am very saddened to hear this morning that Tim - probably the world's most famous elephant - has passed away at the good old age of 50.

This is sad news, but it is no tragedy -today we should celebrate his life and the efforts of all those in Amboseli. pic.twitter.com/8FTcLkysc0

- David Yarrow (@David_Yarrow) February 5, 2020

Environmentalists say there are barely a few dozen giant tusks left in Africa. The poachers, who hunt them for their ivory elephants, make them their preferred target. Their genetic heritage is therefore reduced, which is why today's African elephants have smaller tusks than a century ago, according to scientists.

In the past decade, the number of African elephants has dropped by 110,000 to 415,000 specimens, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Some 30,000 African elephants are victims of poaching every year.

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