World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day History

World Elephant Day is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of elephant conservation, the challenges they face, and the indispensable role these fascinating creatures play in the global ecosystem. Elephants are recognized for their intelligence, emotional complexity, and social structure. They are crucial for maintaining ecological balance in their habitats, as they help disperse seeds and promote revegetation. Despite their contributions, elephants face numerous threats like habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal ivory trade, pushing them towards endangerment.

Established in 2012 by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark, along with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation based in Thailand, World Elephant Day sheds light on the plight of both African and Asian elephants. For Canadians, this observance presents an opportunity to support elephant conservation initiatives through donations, volunteering, and spreading awareness. In recent years, Canada has stepped up its efforts in wildlife conservation, implementing various legal measures to curb wildlife trafficking, including the ivory trade, which directly affect elephants' survival.

In Canada, World Elephant Day is observed through various activities such as educational events, fundraisers, film screenings, and social media campaigns, encouraging Canadians to learn about elephants and take concrete actions to help protect them. For those interested in participating, local zoos, wildlife conservation organizations, and educational institutions often host events or share relevant information on their platforms. World Elephant Day takes place annually on August 12th, and is an occasion for Canadians to join the global community in celebrating these captivating animals while working towards their preservation.

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 Toronto Zoo was once home to a group of three elephants named Toka, Iringa, and Thika. In 2013, the elephants were moved to the PAWS Wildlife Sanctuary in California, due to concerns about the zoo's ability to provide the best possible care and environment for the elephants.
• The Valley Zoo in Edmonton has an elephant named Lucy who has been at the center of several controversies. Animal rights activists have long campaigned for her to be relocated to a sanctuary where she can live with other elephants. However, the zoo has kept Lucy, arguing that her health issues make it unsafe for her to be moved.

In the News and Trending in Canada for World Elephant Day

Top things to do in Canada 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.
• Check with local organizations or conservation groups for any fundraising events being held in support of elephant conservation.
• Spend the day at a zoo, like the Toronto Zoo or the Calgary Zoo, which has an elephant exhibit or visit sanctuaries that focus on conservation and animal welfare.