14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Sustainable Travel
Last remaining Big Tusker and Assistant Warden 2 Timothy Kasaing T. Nkurude of the Big Life Foundation's Mobile Team

Each year I do my best to volunteer photography services to a non-profit in need of visual communication materials to help in fund raising and spread awareness. I have just returned from a volunteer photography assignment for a foundation named Big Life Foundation working in the Mbirikani Province of Kenya, Africa. The foundation's primary focus is to support 300 wildlife rangers to protect wildlife from poachers and human conflict when animals leave the protection of the Amboseli National park. This photo is part of a collection of portraits of African Rangers living and working in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa Pictured: Kenya's last remaining Big Tusker, Tim, and his female herd with Assistant Warden 2 Timothy Kasaing T. Nkurude of the Big Life Foundation's Mobile Team. According to Nkurude, with tusks weighing 120 kilos (265 lb.) Tim is the last remaining elephant bull who carries enormous Ivory Tusks that touch the ground. He is the last of his kind in Kenya and possible in Africa.”

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Mbirikani, Kenya
Copyright: © Matilde Simas