SUPER TUSKER PHOTOGRAPHY: MY PHOTO JOURNEY WITH CRAIG, VRONSKY AND MICHAEL
Craig (1972-2026) My last image
CRAIG (1972–2026): AMBOSELI’S LEGENDARY SUPER TUSKER
Two weeks ago, I woke up to the news that Craig, Amboseli’s most famous Super Tusker had died at 54 years old. Like millions of others I was shocked and saddened at the news, but so relieved to hear that he had died of natural causes and that in his last hours, as he was for much of his life, he was protected and supported by the teams of Big Life Africa and the KWS.
In the days that followed tributes from conservationists, photographers and elephant lovers poured in across social media. I loved how Big Life articulated his impact-
“Craig had an extraordinary impact on a huge number of people, regardless of whether they saw him in person. People felt a connection with him, beyond simple awe of his magnificent tusks…Craig was truly an ambassador for his species”.
Craig from below
Photographing a Craig- A Gentle Giant
I feel incredibly fortunate to have photographed Craig several times, most recently in October 2025. As I’ve written in my blog on Tusker Elephant Photography, Craig wasn’t always easy to photograph. He preferred feeding deep in the bushes, moving slowly among other bulls. My final encounterwhen he finally stepped into the open really felt like a gift. I didn’t know at the time it was to be his parting gift.
Yet more meaningful than the image itself was spending over an hour watching him feed, strip bark, and knock down trees as I quietly observed. Moments like that define why elephant tusker photography in Amboseli is so special.
My first image of Craig
Amboseli’s Super Tusker legacy
When I return to Amboseli next year it will be hard to imagine it without Craig, as he had so much presence. However, I can only imagine the sense of loss by those who helped protect him for most of his later years. The fact that he lived such a long life, though the threat of poaching was ever present, is due to concerted community of support from the Maasai, Kenya Wildlife Service, Big Life Africa, Elephant Voices and ATE. All worked tirelessly to protect him, not only in life, but his legacy in death.
The fact that Craig will have fathered many calves over his long lifespan, means that his offspring will be future tuskers roaming the Amboseli plains for years to come.
PHOTOGRAPHING VRONSKY- When Two tusks Becomes One
When I returned to Amboseli in October I received an update on one of my favourite elephants in Amboseli- Vronsky. Over the last few years I have probably spent more time with Vronsky than any other elephant. I’ve seen him at his worst during the drought in 2023 when I didn’t think he was going to survive and then in February 2025 he was looking fit and healthy, especially after making a full recovery after a leg injury. Time and time again he’s shown incredible resilience.
Portrait of Vronsky
Super Tusker Challenges
However, yet again he’s having to deal with another setback. Eric (Eric Ole Kalama) told me that in June they noticed a tusker drinking at the water hole in front of camp who was missing his left tusk. When they looked more closely they could see a familiar “V” nick in one of Vronsky’s ears, so called the Kenya Wildlife Service, who confirmed that they had found a tusk but didn’t know who it belonged to. What was interesting is that the entire tusk was intact and not broken, which would perhaps indicate that Vronsky had lost it through a toothache of some kind.
Even though Vronsky may not now be the photogenic tusker with only one tusk, I still wanted to see him and continue my journey with this gentle giant. When he turned up one day at lunchtime for a drink, rather than spend the afternoon in the reserve I wanted to follow Vronsky for the afternoon in the camp conservancy. It was just me, Eric and Vronsky for two hours, as he went from bush to bush feeding. You could tell that he was finding life a little trickier as he used his right tusk and his trunk stripping bark and foraging. As Eric put it “I think he was a left sided fellow”. Vronsky is entering his 50th year this year and losing his tusk may also make him vulnerable especially when competing with other males during musth.
Vronsky without his right tusk
However, despite these challenges I have seen at first-hand how resilient Vronsky has been over the years. He has bounced back from many setbacks, and I hope that he will be able to survive this. Whilst every elephant in Amboseli deserves our respect, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Vronsky. Below is one of my favourite images of Vronsky captured the first time I saw him. It was taken during the severe drought that took hold in East Africa during 2023 which killed thousands of elephants and other wildlife. Vronsky had grown weak and skinny during this natural disaster. Adding drama to the scene was the storm that was brewing across the Amboseli plains as he made his way to shelter of a nearby Acacia.
Like Craig, Vronsky is another super tusker that inspires admiration and respect.
Vronsky weathers the storm & drought
MICHAEL- RISE OF A NEW SUPER TUSKER
The future of the Giants of Amboseli shines brightly in Michael, a magnificent bull now entering his prime. At 35 years old, Michael’s long, symmetrical tusks nearly touch the ground, and over the next decade, he is poised to become one of Amboseli’s great super tuskers.
During my October visit, we found Michael in musth. With patience and expert guiding, we were rewarded with extraordinary sightings, including a rare alignment with Mount Kilimanjaro as his backdrop, always an unforgettable moment in super tusker elephant photography.
Super Tusker Michael with Kilimanjaro backdrop
Giants of Amboseli: Past, Present, and Future
Amboseli is one of the most magical places on Earth to photograph elephants. Each year, I deepen my connection with the super tusker elephants that roam these plains—icons like Craig, resilient souls like Vronsky, and rising giants like Michael.
This blog celebrates the past, present, and future of the Giants of Amboseli, and I hope to continue documenting their stories through photography and words for many years to come.
Michael and his incredible tusks
If you want to see more of my Super Tusker images from Amboseli please take a look at one of my latest collections AMBOSELI ELEPHANTS
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog . If you are interested in knowing more let me know your questions via this link or connect with me on Instagram — I love hearing from fellow Elephant lovers!
Jules
