- The King of Marsabit's tusk was so long that he could only climb hills by walking backward, that's how different Ahmed was.
- "President Kenyatta declared Ahmed be preserved at the Nairobi National Museum for future generations to be able to admire this giant of nature."
Image: GOOGLE
Ahmed, popularly known as 'The King Of Marsabit', shot into the limelight in the 1960s but his body was found one morning in 1974 after he failed to show up.
Today, Google Doodle celebrates the elephant who was declared a living monument during his time.
Ahmed was known for his big tusks and appeared on several TV series including 'Search for Ahmed'.
Ahmed's tusk weighed 150 lbs (68.03 kgs) each, the heaviest in Africa, and became the first Elephant in history to be protected under the presidential decree in Kenya.
The King of Marsabit's tusk was so long that he could only climb hills by walking backwards, that's how different Ahmed was.
Living in the forests of the Marsabit National Reserve on a mountain rising out of the scrublands of northern Kenya where he was born, and was often in the company of two smaller bull elephants who stood beside him.
According to Google's Art & Culture, the two bull elephants protected Ahmed and his treasure, as he was rarely seen, but known for his long tusk.
With Ahmed's popularity, school-going children wrote a letter to Kenya's first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in the late 1970s through a writing campaign, urging the state to protect Ahmed, as he was a national treasure.
President Kenyatta obliged and placed Ahmed under his protection by Presidential Decree. Ahmed became the only Elephant to be declared a living monument.
How he was guarded
He was guarded day and night by two armed game rangers. He was under security and surveillance at all hours.
"Ahmed got used to the presence of his guards and continued to roam Marsabit Park."
But one morning, Ahmed did not show up from the forests, and after a search was conducted, he was found lying peacefully against a tree, appearing as if he was sleeping. But by then he was long dead.
Born in 1919, Ahmed died aged 55 in 1974.
"President Kenyatta declared Ahmed be preserved at the Nairobi National Museum for future generations to be able to admire this giant of nature."
Google has today honoured Ahmed with an illustration of Elephants, with tourists appearing to be taking photos of the elephants.
On the side, is a long tusk, symbolising that of Ahmed, with a 'Google' sign