Tsavo East National Park is mourning the death of its 65-year-old matriarch, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced Tuesday.
Dida, also known as Queen of Tsavo, was aged between 60 and 65, an “iconic matriarch” of the Tsavo East National Park, KWS said.
“She died from natural causes due to old age,” the KWS said on Twitter.
Dida was a “great repository of many decades’ worth of knowledge” and had shepherded “her herd through many seasons and challenging times”, it added.
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
Currently, 179 elephant deaths have been reported due to the ongoing drought affecting eastern Africa.
Tsavo is the worst affected; 81 elephants have died, followed by Samburu with 67 and Isiolo with 57. In the Amboseli ecosystem, 22 elephants and 36 in Laikipia have been lost. Ten elephants have died in Marsabit.
Tsavo East National Park is one of Kenya’s oldest and largest parks at 13,747 square kilometres.
It is situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert. It opened in April 1948 and is located near the town of Voi in Taita-Taveta County.
Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park are home to 13,000 elephants.
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