Who is Ahmed the Elephant and why is he being celebrated with a Google Doodle?

Google is honouring the first giant tusked elephant to be protected under presidential decree in Kenya by providing a doodle.

Ahmed the elephant was born in 1919 in the forests of Mount Marsabit, Kenya and came to attention in the 1960s when he was spotted by hikers in the North Kenya mountains, who called him “The King of Marsabit".

The spotters claimed Ahmed’s tusks were so large they scraped the ground and the legend took hold across the nation. Though seldom seen, he was known well by reputation, and people knew his tusks were so long that he could only climb hills by walking backwards.

These tusks were 150 pounds each, making them the heaviest and largest in Africa.

In 1970, Ahmed's popularity grew and coincided with projects to protect the elephant from poachers. This cause led to the launch of many television projects, including an ABC series and a documentary.

The rise in pop culture inspired school children to campaign for him and they wrote to Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Ahmed was subsequently placed under protection by presidential decree, with security around him heightened.

To preserve his life, two guards were appointed to watch over the elephant day and night in Marsabit Park until his death at 55 in 1974. The guards found his body one morning after he never returned once disappearing behind bushes.

President Kenyatta ordered taxidermists to preserve Ahmed for future generations at the Nairobi National Museum where he can still be seen today.

In a heartwarming tribute, Google is commemorating the legacy of Ahmed; the first giant tusked elephant protected under a historic presidential decree in Kenya, by featuring him in a special doodle on Wednesday 6th December 2023.

Ahmed's journey began in 1919 when he was born in the lush forests of Mount Marsabit, Kenya. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that he captured the nation's attention when hikers in the North Kenya mountains encountered him, affectionately dubbing him "The King of Marsabit."

Renowned for his colossal tusks that reputedly scraped the ground, Ahmed became a national legend despite being rarely seen. Fabled stories circulated, suggesting that his tusks were so long that he had to navigate hills by walking backward. Each of his tusks weighed an astonishing 150 pounds, marking them as the heaviest and largest in Africa.

By 1970, Ahmed's popularity surged, coinciding with concerted efforts to protect him from the threat of poachers. This movement prompted the launch of various television projects, including an ABC series and a documentary, contributing to his widespread recognition.

Ahmed's rise to pop culture fame also inspired school children to rally for his protection. Their impassioned letters to Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, played a pivotal role in Ahmed's fate. In response, President Kenyatta issued a presidential decree that placed Ahmed under heightened security, aiming to safeguard him from harm.

In an effort to preserve Ahmed's life, two dedicated guards were appointed to watch over him day and night within Marsabit Park. Tragically, at the age of 55, Ahmed passed away in 1974. His lifeless body was discovered one morning, having mysteriously disappeared behind bushes.

As a lasting tribute to the iconic elephant, President Kenyatta ordered taxidermists to preserve Ahmed for future generations. Today, visitors can still witness Ahmed's majestic presence at the Nairobi National Museum, ensuring that his story endures as a symbol of conservation and the enduring bond between humans and wildlife.

What Are Google Doodles?

Google Doodles are imaginative variations of the company's logo that appear on Google’s homepage to commemorate special events, anniversaries or significant figures in history. What began as a creative gesture by Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, to acknowledge their attendance at the Burning Man festival in 1998 has since evolved into a global platform for artistic expression.

Over the years, Google has partnered with a team of illustrators and artists, known as "Doodlers," who are responsible for crafting these eye-catching designs. From static images to animated and interactive creations, each Google Doodle is a unique masterpiece that pays homage to diverse themes, personalities, and cultural phenomena.