World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day History

World Elephant Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the protection and preservation of elephants. It emphasizes the critical role elephants play in maintaining ecosystems and highlights the urgent need to address their dwindling population due to poaching and habitat loss. From increasing public awareness to implementing policy changes, World Elephant Day encourages global cooperation to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures.

The observance was established in 2012. World Elephant Day was founded by filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark, along with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation based in Thailand. The issue of elephant conservation is of relevance to Americans, as the United States plays a significant role in the global conservation community, both in funding and implementing projects. The US has its own population of captive elephants in zoos and sanctuaries, which raises concerns about the living conditions and ethical treatment of these animals.

In the United States, World Elephant Day is observed in various ways. Conservation organizations, zoos, and animal sanctuaries participate by holding educational events, fundraisers, and social media campaigns to spread awareness and raise support for preserving these keystone species. Many Americans join the cause by donating to conservation organizations, adopting elephants, or supporting ethical tourism that benefits local communities and elephants alike. World Elephant Day is celebrated annually on August 12, providing an opportunity for individuals around the world to unite in their efforts to protect and conserve elephants for generations to come.

World Elephant Day facts

• Elephants have highly sensitive skin and orifices, which they protect from the harsh sun, biting bugs, and dirt by giving themselves dust baths.
• Elephants have the longest gestation period of any terrestrial animal, with a pregnancy lasting approximately 22 months.
• Elephants have a unique and complex system of communication that includes seismic signals, sounds outside of the human hearing range, visual signaling, touch, and chemical signals.
• There are 3 different species of elephant: the African Savannah elephant, the African Forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.
• According to wwf.org, as of 2019 only about 415,000 wild African elephants were known to still be alive in the world. As for wild Asian elephants, only 45,000 were known to be alive.
• The saying, an elephant never forgets comes from the fact that an elephant's temporal lobe (the part of the brain associated with memory) is much larger and denser than that of people.

In the News and Trending in the US for World Elephant Day

Top things to do in the US for World Elephant Day

• Visit your local zoo. See animals from different regions and be sure to catch the elephants.
• View upcoming events. World Elephant Day hosts events to raise awareness about elephants and spread more information about them. Find events near you or register for a virtual one.
• Watch a nature documentary about elephants. Here are our suggestions:
  Elephant (2020)
  The Elephant Queen (2018)
  The Ivory Game (2016)
• Watch Elephant (2020).