Today’s Google doodle is a tribute to Ahmed the elephant, also known as Ahmed of Marsabit. It was a legendary elephant with the longest and heaviest tusks ever recorded in Africa. Ahmed died in 1974, but his legacy lives on. His skeleton with his original tusks is on display at the Nairobi National Museum.
Google is celebrating Ahmed the Elephant with a special doodle. Ahmed was born in 1919 in the lush Mount Marsabit in Kenyan forests. The doodle features illustrations of elephants and tourists.
Ahmed became famous in the 1960s when hikers in Northern Kenya found him. Known as “The King Of Marsabit” due to his huge tusks, Ahmed’s story spread globally, Each tusk weighed over 150 pounds! TV shows and documentaries in the 1970s made him even more popular.
In 1970, Ahmed became the subject of many television projects, including an ABC series and a documentary. His rise in pop culture inspired schoolchildren to campaign for Ahmed’s protection from poachers. After they sent letters to Kenya’s first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, he placed Ahmed under his protection by Presidential Decree. He was so revered that he was declared a living monument by the country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and placed under 24-hour protection.
Children in schools supported Ahmed, and Kenya’s President protected him from poachers. Ahmed had guards to watch over him, but he passed away at 55 due to natural causes. Kenya preserved his body, displayed at the Nairobi National Museum.
Ahmed’s story has reached many countries, and the Google Doodle is making an impact worldwide. His tale reminds us of the importance of conservation and the lasting legacy of an extraordinary elephant.
The reach of this doodle spans various regions including Kenya, Iceland, Uruguay, Chile, Pakistan, France, Ireland United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany among other countries.
Ahmed’s tale serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of conservation and the enduring legacy of a remarkable elephant.