World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day History

World Elephant Day is an annual observance aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of conserving and protecting elephants and their habitats. The United Kingdom is one of many countries around the world that actively participates in World Elephant Day.

The first World Elephant Day was celebrated in 2012 and was initiated by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand as a response to the escalating poaching crisis taking place in Africa. The day has since gained momentum, and conservationists, governments, and animal rights organizations around the world use it as an opportunity to highlight the challenges facing elephants and raise awareness about the work being done to protect them.

In the United Kingdom, several events and campaigns are organized in various cities from London to Edinburgh to mark World Elephant Day each year. Activists, conservationists, and animal welfare organizations use the day as an opportunity to encourage people to support elephant conservation and draw attention to the plight of these majestic creatures. The aim is to drive up donations and fundraising for elephant conservation efforts in the UK and around the world, fostering a collective effort to protect elephants and raise awareness of their plight. World Elephant Day is observed annually on August 12th.

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.
• The first known elephant to arrive in the UK was in 1255, a gift from King Louis IX of France to King Henry III. This elephant was housed in the Tower of London menagerie. Later in 1829, London Zoo acquired its first Asiatic elephant.
• Chester Zoo has built the UK's largest elephant habitat called "Elephants of the Asian Forest." The facility provides a more natural environment for the elephants and is designed to contribute to the conservation of Asian elephants by promoting breeding and educating visitors on the species and their habitats.

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

Top things to do in the UK 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.
• Visit the Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent to learn about their conservation efforts and enjoy special activities.
• Learn more about elephants and their conservation by watching documentaries and movies such as The Ivory Game, Elephant, and Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale.