Kenyans on Twitter were on Wednesday joined by Twitterati from all over the world in mourning the demise of Tim, one of Africa’s largest elephants who died early Tuesday morning, February 4, 2020, at the Amboseli National Park.
The Kenya Wildlife Service in a statement on Wednesday said super tusker Tim succumbed to natural causes in Mada area of the park. He was half a century old.
The body of the giant elephant, one of Kenya’s National Treasure whose celebrity status scaled beyond the African continent, was moved to the National Museum in Nairobi where a taxidermist will prepare it for preservation to be used for education and exhibition purposes.
Some years back, KWS said Tim was struck on the head with a large rock and pierced through the ear with a spear, the tip of which was embedded in his shoulder.
Following the injury, Tim is said to have sought out humans who could assist him; he worked his way to the headquarters of the Big Life Foundation, a non-profit outfit and AWF partner dedicated to the conservation of elephants in southern Kenya.
“Kenya Wildlife Service in collaboration with partners sedated, and treated him and then he found his way back to the Amboseli marsh in fairly short time.
“Elephant families are matriarchal and males are solitary from the group when they reach sexual maturity. But Tim was always welcome to travel in the company of females and their families. He was unassuming, unpretentious and laid back. A benevolent, slow-moving preserver of the peace at Amboseli, he was well known and loved throughout Kenya,” said KWS.
The death of the iconic giant was felt from all corners of the world, with thousands of netizens taking to Twitter to mourn Tim via hashtag #RipTim.
Some reactions below.
Iconic Tim Takes a Bow ? pic.twitter.com/KrrCNvSPMr
— KWS (@kwskenya) February 5, 2020
BREAKING NEWS: Majestic Tim the super Tusker in Elephants Of Amboseli is no more. He died last night near Kimana gate. He appeared to be in good healthy musth condition.
What a huge loss this is for Amboseli National park and to all of us. @kwskenya @tunajibu pic.twitter.com/8Oj5URWM8h— Jim Justus Nyamu (@NyamuJim) February 5, 2020
Tim, the Super Tusker elephant in Amboseli has died. Our hearts are broken ?.
Tim was one of Africa’s very few Super Tuskers, and an incredible elephant whose presence awed and inspired many.
He was one of Kenya’s National Treasures! ? #RIPTim pic.twitter.com/ene1TA2roo
— wildlifedirect (@wildlifedirect) February 5, 2020
Dear Tim, you were & are an embodiment of Africa grace, strength and magical uniqueness! For years, you have stood guard, protected the land and gave us much pride. Rest easy, YOU WILL BE MISSED!
#RIPTim
(Photo courtesy) pic.twitter.com/zRo9bvuOoJ— Splash World Limited (@Splashworldltd) February 5, 2020
Tim surprised everyone. He was a crop raider but he was a gentle, calm, intelligent being. His size was breathtaking, and he seemed to know it. #RipTim?
?https://t.co/7aNos9sFIS @ElephantTrust @ste_kenya @ElephantCrisis @TEQmovie @paulakahumbu @kwskenya @ElephantCrisis pic.twitter.com/vVIsLtxBQ8
— wildlifedirect (@wildlifedirect) February 5, 2020
Last weekend we spent time with Tim in Amboseli National Park. Come here @DavidOsiany and see this beautiful giant is no more??#RIPTim pic.twitter.com/O3msqUb5me
— Syombua Osiany (@SyombuaOsiany) February 5, 2020
Tim was an iconic large male, whose fame catalyzed many conservation collaborations between KWS and conservation organizations. He captured the hearts of people around the world, who would travel to Amboseli to photograph him.#RIPTim pic.twitter.com/KTnLJJ4jx5
— Ciku ?? (@Ciku_Muriithi) February 5, 2020
Big Bull Tim, The Super Tusker Elephant In Amboseli Has Died. We Now Remain With Less Than 30 Of This Kind In Africa.
This Is Truly Saddening??. #RIPTim pic.twitter.com/emx4UqXCuw— ADVENT TOURS AND SAFARIS (@AdventSafaris) February 5, 2020
I’ve been crying a lot since this week began ???
The kids and now Tim. We just lost Sudan?#RIPTim
?|courtesy pic.twitter.com/zI5wAIWfvs— Daughter of The Soil (@wendybabra) February 5, 2020
Tim, the Super Tusker elephant in Amboseli has died. Our hearts are broken ?.
Tim was one of Africa’s very few Super Tuskers and an incredible elephant whose presence awed and inspired many.
He was one of Kenya’s National Treasures! ? #RIPTim pic.twitter.com/27LBpZnwui
— HandsOffOurElephants (@HandsOffEles) February 5, 2020
RIP Tim ? Africa’s greatest is no more #AmboseliNationalPark #Kenya #Africa #RIPTim pic.twitter.com/wGYqyqqCDI
— Pratap Bose (@pratap_bose) February 5, 2020
I met Tim in 2014 during a trip to #Amboseli. I didn’t think much of him then. Only later did I know he was such a big deal because of his big tusks.
The news of his passing on yesterday is also a big deal. Happy that it was due to old age, not poaching. Tim was 50.#RIPTim pic.twitter.com/HuHuBgVbog
— Mwangi Kirubi (@mwarv) February 5, 2020
Kenyans are bashing Moi, the dead former president in #GoToHellMoi but praising Tim, a dead elephant in #RIPTim. pic.twitter.com/4p6QWJwFyr
— ??? ?????? (@AwDoll) February 5, 2020
Utterly devastated ?
— Louisa Pearson (@louisa1000) February 5, 2020
Very sad – an iconic bull in his prime but important to remember that if not for @biglifeafrica @ste_kenya and @aetkenya he would have been killed well before he achieved ‘supertusker’ status.
— The Elephant Queen (@TEQmovie) February 5, 2020
??? what a beautiful reminder to us how majestic these creatures are, and we have an obligation to care for them. R.I.P Tim ? #elephant
— Claudia Bryan (@ClaudiaBryan01) February 5, 2020
Amboseli will never be the same without Tim.
— Hussein Loxontonta (@Hus_Loxodonta) February 5, 2020
So sad to say goodbye to a very big old friend. pic.twitter.com/4pDAk354x7
— Dr. Paula Kahumbu (@paulakahumbu) February 5, 2020
Kwaheri Tim, you brought so much awe, love and joy into our lives. RIP Tim. https://t.co/YJr1Jo6FYF
— Dr. Paula Kahumbu (@paulakahumbu) February 5, 2020
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
He was loved well beyond Amboseli and will be sorely missed by many. Just sorry that he will not be there for our visit next year☹️? RIP Tim.
— David Thorp (@DaveThorp60) February 5, 2020
RIP Tim. You were a magnificent elephant. ?
— Anne Hayes (@annehay92567749) February 5, 2020
