Within one of East Africa’s last true wilderness areas, a very rare elephant continues to survive, although only a handful remain. The big Tuskers – or “super tuskers” – are elephants with tusks that are so long that they reach to the ground. Each of their tusks weigh 100-plus pounds, making these majestic elephants resemble their pre-historic ancestors.
Drew Doggett Photography
Super tuskers live to be 60 to 70 years old and are considered a “keystone species” as they play a central role in the continued flourishing of the African bush in which they live. An estimated 24 remain alive on Earth, but they are facing tremendous challenges.
Tsavo Trust is a charity organization dedicated to helping the handful of big tuskers that live in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park. But with funding running short due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the pressures against the elephants’ survival are mounting.
Renowned wildlife photographer Drew Doggett is helping to bring awareness and support to the Tsavo super tuskers in this time of crisis through his new photo series titled Colossal Shadows: Super Tuskers of East Africa, “an epic and intimate portrayal of the lives of these great elephants.”
Drew Doggett Photography
Doggett visited Kenya before the Covid-19 outbreak and captured the wild elephants in their natural habitat. His excursions to Tsavo and Amboseli National Park in early 2020 resulted in astounding photos that highlight the majesty and beauty of the super tusk elephants.
Drew Doggett Photography
Doggett was fortunate to capture photos of two of the largest super tusker elephants named Tim and Craig, who live in Amboseli. Soon after Doggett’s visit, Tim passed away from natural causes.
“Craig and Tim are two of the most iconic tuskers of the last few decades. Their tusks weigh a combined 200+ lbs, making them the frequent target of poachers, yet they managed to survive despite all odds,” Doggett writes on Instagram. “When I was in Amboseli, I had my sights set on photographing Craig and Tim together. This was no easy ask, considering these mighty elephants roam freely over hundreds of miles, often never crossing paths for months on end.”
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After 13 days of searching and waiting, Doggett and his guides received word from one of their Maasai contacts that Tim and Craig had been spotted together.
“As we cautiously approached, I positioned myself ahead of their path as low and close as I could safely get. Then, for a split second, the two elephants aligned perfectly resulting in the above image before disappearing into the bush,” he writes.
“Photographing wild animals can be extraordinarily frustrating, but when you get the moment to take a shot like this, it makes all the planning, waiting, and effort worth it,” Doggett added about his photo.⠀
Drew Doggett Photography
He also managed to capture families of elephants journeying through the dry terrain for the African bush. One striking shot has them sheltering under a tree for shade.
Elephants also use their trunks to spray themselves with dirt as a form of sunscreen.
Other photos highlight the symbiotic relationships the gentle giants form with other wildlife.
To support Tsavo Trust’s fundraising, Doggett is donating a portion of every print sold. Prints can be purchased at his website.
Meanwhile, Tsavo Trust Co-Founder & CEO Richard Moller is doing what he can to help the super tuskers survive drought, poaching, encroaching human populations and other disasters.
“Many people didn’t realize that these elephants actually existed,” explains Moller, who adds that more people need to understand elephants are being pushed to the brink.
In its efforts to raise awareness, Tsavo Trust recently released a video highlighting their efforts. Says Moller, “We hope this film reminds us of the extraordinary living creatures that we share on this planet of ours – and that its existence is one worth fighting for.”
Tsavo Trust has helped drastically reduce poaching in the area in the last 8 years, but it needs help in raising funds to keep combating the threat. To help support their efforts visit their website.
To see more of Drew Doggett’s super tusker series and other photographs visit his website. Doggett’s work can also be seen on Instagram and Facebook.
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