The world celebrates International Elephant day on August 12. We take a look at how these majestic creatures impact our world, and what we can do to protect them for future generations.
These gentle giants continue to face numerous threats as a worldwide demand for ivory and bush meat still spurs on the lucrative illicit trade. Many elephants also face horrific brutality in the entertainment industry in some Asian countries, where they are subdued and tamed in cruel ways in order to be ridden or petted by customers.
Muddy ellies enjoying time in the Chobe River. Image credit: Elise Kirsten
The Asian elephant is endangered with less than 40,000 remaining worldwide and the African elephant is threatened with less than 400,000 remaining worldwide, reports World Elephant Day.
‘Elephants cannot be manufactured. Once they’re gone, they cannot be replaced,’ said Iain Douglas-Hamilton Founder and CEO of Save the Elephants. According to the Kenya-based organisation, about 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory between 2010 and 2012.
‘Elephants are Africa’s gardeners and landscape engineers, planting seeds and creating habitat wherever they roam,’ Save the Elephants continues.
In South Africa, organisations like HERD Elephant Orphanage are doing amazing work to protect, rescue and rehabilitate our ellies.
Read: HERD: SA’s first elephant orphanage
‘With the onset of global travel bans and COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa, our responsibilities remain the same without financial contributions from tourism,’ said HERD on their campaign page. As such, they have launched a fundraising campaign called Art for Elephants.
Renowned artist James Delaney has created magnificent artworks available for purchase, with the proceeds going directly towards HERD. For more information, to buy an artwork, simply make a donation or enter a competition to win one of the signed artworks or a three night safari stay, click here.
Also read:
Akashinga: All-female unit combating elephant poaching in Zimbabwe
