Isis was thought to be the oldest Elephant in the whole of the Amboseli Elephant population. She is estimated to have been born in the mid 1930's, accurately 1936, according to Cynthia Moss's records. It is with sad emotion that we announce the death by old age of one of the best known and studied matriarchs, Isis of the IB family. Her lower jaw shows that she was down to her last molar which is smooth and completely worn out.

Death from old age is much preferable to the ways many elephants lives have come to an end like spearing. We found her carcass this morning inside the park, south of Longinye swamp. This area is a preferable resting and death place for old and dying elephants, as it has plenty of water and soft vegetation.

Up until her death three weeks ago, Isis was the leader of the IB's since Cynthia discovered the family in the early 1970's. Currently the IB's have expanded to 43 members—without Isis, from 15 members only in the year 1987. She gave birth to her last calf Ivan, a male, in 1999, who is still with the family at only nine years old. She was last seen and recorded with the family on 29th September 2008.

She was a very wise and clever matriarch and we hope Inga, who is now the oldest female in the group, will lead the family with the experience she has gathered from her late leader. We wish the IB's all the best for many years to come.