Kimana Sanctuary, Kenya, Africa – Code: AN5787ST

Title: TIM THE KING OF KINGS
Location: Kimana Sanctuary, Kenya, Africa 
Code: AN5787ST
Portfolio Type: “ THE ONE ” Fine Art Portfolio
(Logo on image is not on print)
 
This was a remarkable afternoons safari, but at the time I didn’t realize just how remarkable it was. I was out on an afternoon safari and had stopped to photograph some zebras when to my left four big bull elephants came out of the bush. I realized the elephant in front must of been quite old as his tusks where huge. So I happily photographed away, they past about 40 feet in front of my vehicle and wonder off into some marshy scrub where I couldn’t follow. Elated with the encounter I happy continued off on my afternoon safari. 
 
It wasn’t till I was talking to one of the rangers the next day that I found out that that was Tim the oldest elephant in Kenya, I was astounded that I’d come face to face with the king of the elephants. Funny enough it was a couple of days later that I saw a photo of Tim in the Amboseli guide book stating that he was the oldest elephant in Kenya, when I had a close look at the photo I could see it was definitely Tim that I saw. I felt very fortunate to have crossed paths with Tim and proud that I had been able to capture imagery of him.
 
months later back in Seattle, I got some really bad news about Tim, it was on the world news that Tim had been found dead. It was a sad moment for me as I had seen a true king of the elephants and for him to have died so soon after. The good thing was that he didn’t die from poachers, he had died of natural causes. So I don’t know if I was the last professional photographer to capture Tim, in a funny way I hope I was, but I’m so proud and humbled to have been in his presence. 
 
This is a shot of Tim as he pasted in front of my 4WD.
 
Here is an extract from a news article.
 
NAIRO NAIROBI, Kenya
Tim, Kenya's biggest and oldest elephant who survived numerous attacks by poachers, has died, wildlife authorities said Wednesday.
"Iconic Tim, the Big Tusker is dead,” said Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Udoto. “The celebrated elephant died Tuesday morning.”
Tim's greatest struggle came against poachers in 2016 when he was hit by a large rock and pierced through his ear and shoulder from a spear thrown by poachers.
He was sedated and treated and continued to roam the vast, remote wilderness of Amboselli National Park until he died at the age of 50.
Despite elephants being matriarchal and males living a solitary life away from the group when they reach sexual maturity, Tim was always welcomed to travel in the company of females and their families, according to KWS.
Officials said Tim, who had one of the largest tusks in Africa, was unassuming, unpretentious, laid back and loved all across Kenya and Africa.