Trophy hunter killings spark fierce battle over the future of super tusker elephants

The lifting of a long-held ban has angered conservationists, but others argue trophy hunting can support local economies and even help protect threatened species

In the borderlands of Tanzania and Kenya, the super tuskers" roam. A combination of old age, genetic pooling and prolonged protection from poaching has created a population of bull elephants with enormous tusks, weighing up to 45kg apiece, large enough to scrape along the ground as the animals walk. To many, the bulls are living icons" of the African savannah. They are also highly prized by trophy hunters.

Now, a series of super-tusker killings has sparked a bitter international battle over trophy hunting and its controversial, sometimes counterintuitive role in conservation. Some conservationists believe the killing of these extraordinary animals should not be allowed. Others say controlled, regulated hunting can actually contribute to elephants' long-term survival by providing jobs for local people and incentives for habitats to be preserved.