“Super Tuskers: The Last Giants of Africa”

With tusks weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kg) each and often brushing the ground, Africa’s “super tuskers” are living legends. These rare elephants, shaped by a unique genetic trait that accelerates tusk growth, are majestic symbols of the wild—but also prime targets for poachers.

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Today, fewer than 30 remain, according to the Tsavo Trust, which monitors Kenya’s elephant population. Most are found in the southern regions of the country, where Italian-born wildlife photographer Federico Veronesi has spent years documenting their lives. His new book, Walk the Earth, is both a photographic tribute and a call for conservation, celebrating what he calls “the last witnesses of a world before humans took over.”

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Veronesi’s journey began in childhood when he fell in love with African wildlife from afar. That passion eventually brought him to Kenya, where elephants became his lifelong focus. “When you see an elephant walking across the savanna, it feels like Africa itself is in that single image,” he reflected.

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The book features encounters with some of Africa’s most iconic tuskers, including Tim of Amboseli, whose enormous ivory nearly touched the ground, and Balguda, one of the greatest tuskers still alive. Veronesi finally photographed Balguda in 2023 after years of searching, calling it “one of my most intense encounters in the wild.”

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Walk the Earth not only showcases elephant behavior—from courtship and mud baths to social bonds—but also highlights the threats they face: shrinking habitats, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Veronesi donates his work to conservation groups and uses exhibitions worldwide to raise awareness, even in countries like China where ivory demand has fueled killing.

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By portraying elephants as individuals with personality and emotion, Veronesi hopes his images create empathy. “Elephants embody patience, wisdom, and care,” he said. “They remind us that, even in a troubled world, peace and balance are possible.”

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