Photographer Captures Final Photos Of The 'Queen Of Elephants' (14 Pics)

Elephants are known for their incredible lifespans, with African elephants living up to 70 years. Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas was lucky enough to have a personal experience with an elephant nearing the end of her life. F_MU1, as she was known by the Tsavo Trust, spent over 60 years living in a quiet corner of Tsavo in Kenya.

These are among the last images captured of her. Shortly after they were taken, she died of natural causes. She had survived through periods of terrible poaching and it was a victory that her life was not ended prematurely by a snare, bullet, or poisoned arrow. F_MU1 was an elephant that few people outside Tsavo knew about. Photographing her, in partnership with Tsavo Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service, was one of the greatest honours of my career. What follows is the story of how I came to capture these images.