Kenya: Dida, the country's largest tusked elephant, died of old age

Her name may not tell you anything, but Dida was considered the largest tusked elephant in Kenya. She died of old age in Tsavo East National Park.

Kenya is in mourning.

Dida, a elephant considered the largest tusked female in the country, died of old age, the national wildlife service, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced on Tuesday (November 1st).

The pachyderm was about sixty years old

The pachyderm was known for its impressive long tusks. The mammal was estimated to be between 60 and 65 years old. In the wild, the life expectancy of elephants is estimated at around 60 years.

« She died of natural causes due to her advanced age. “, clarified the Kenya Wildlife Service in a tweet. The elephant lived in Tsavo National Park in southeastern Kenya .

As the KWS reports, Dida “ led his herd through many seasons and difficult times '. In most cases, female elephants grow up in close-knit families and often have their calves by their side, while male elephants tend to be more solitary.

Kenya suffers from severe drought

Dida's death comes almost a month after the death of Monsoon ('Monsoon' in English'), a female in her sixties and mother of seven baby elephants. The latter died in the famous Samburu reserve, an arid expanse in northern Kenya that faces one of the worst droughts for 40 years.

Monsoon, who had survived poachers five times, was euthanized at the end of September due to her health problems related to her advanced age. At the time, the NGO Save the Elephant said the drought had worsened the animal's condition.

Photo credit: Istock

The Kenya , the economic engine of East Africa, is currently going through a drought of an intensity not seen in 40 years, and hunger affects at least 4 million people there out of a population of more than 50 million.

Unsurprisingly, the consequences of the drought affect the fauna and flora. Indeed, the pastures turned to dust, causing the death of more than one and a half million head of cattle.