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Elephants are the only ones in the world who need their tusks. The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) explains that elephants use their tusks for digging, lifting objects, gathering food, defense, and more. It also protects their trunk which they use for drinking, breathing, eating and more. Yet, humans believe the beauty of ivory is something they have a right to. About 20,000 elephants are killed every year for their tusks. It’s become incredibly rare for elephants’ tusks to grow so large that they can graze the ground. There are only a few dozen such elephants left in the world, and one of them recently died.

Big Tim was a beloved elephant who was extremely well cared for at Amboseli National Park. Thanks to them, he lived to the age of 50 and was one of the few ‘tuskers’ left in the world. His tusks were so big, they weighed, 45.4kg each.

Kenya Wildlife Service says: “The celebrated elephant died early on Tuesday morning aged 50,” and that he was “a benevolent, slow-moving preserver of the peace at Amboseli. He was well known and loved throughout Kenya.”

Big Tim was considered a national treasure in Kenya and his body will be preserved at a museum. Because of his large tusks, he was a big target for poachers. Poaching for the ivory trade has caused the population of African elephants to drop by 110,000 in just the past ten years.

We mourn the death of Big Tim, but urge you to speak up for all other African elephants. Sign this petition asking CITES to uphold the ban on the ivory trade and protect elephants.

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