An elephant believed to be Kenya's largest female elephant has died of old age, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced on Tuesday.

Dida, known for her long tusks, was estimated to be between 60 and 65 years old.

Dida lived in the vast Tsavo National Park in southeastern Kenya.

"She died of natural causes due to her advanced age," the National Wildlife Service announced on Twitter.

“[She] led her herd through many seasons and difficult times.

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A matriach 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.

pic.twitter.com/914FMPKLoF

— Kenya Wildlife Service (@kwskenya) November 1, 2022

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An unprecedented drought in the country

Dida's death comes weeks after the death of another famous elephant in the Samburu reserve in the north of the country.

Monsoon, a female in her sixties and mother of seven calves, had survived poachers five times.

She had to be euthanized at the end of September, her health having deteriorated due to her age and the severe drought affecting the region.

Kenya is indeed experiencing a drought of unprecedented intensity for forty years.

Four million inhabitants (out of more than 50 million) are today suffering from hunger.

Four seasons of poor rains in a row created the driest conditions there since the early 1980s. Rivers and wells dried up, pastures turned to dust, killing more than a million and a half of heads of cattle.

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