World Elephant Day is celebrated on 12 August every year for protecting and preserving one of the most magnificent creatures on earth. Elephants are the gentle giants as they are commonly indicators of wisdom, strength and balance in nature. Even though they are so important, they are under more threats than ever before and that is why this day is so crucial.
The World Elephant Day
The World Elephant Day was initially started in the year 2012 in order to create awareness concerning the elephant endangerment. The day reminds people that elephants are not animals that people admire but they are keystone species and they are crucial in ensuring the health of their environments. They are also responsible in shaping the landscape to assist the seeds in germinating, so the balance in nature is maintained.
Regrettably, the African and the Asian elephants are on the verge of extinction as a result of poaching activities to get tusks, loss of habitat, and climatic changes. In certain areas their population has reduced at an alarming rate. World Elephant Day is an action plan-an appeal to people, communities and governments to act together to save their lives.
Elephant Population in India
| Region | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| All India (Total) | 29,964 elephants |
| Southern Region | 14,606 elephants |
| North-East Region | 10,139 elephants |
| Central Region | 3,128 elephants |
| Northern Region | 2,272 elephants |
These figures reflect counts from the latest comprehensive census in 2017 and remain the most authoritative data available at present.
Threats Faced by Elephants
The largest land animals on the planet are African elephants and they can weigh as much as 6,000 kilograms with big ears that resemble the African continent. Asian elephants are a bit smaller and their ears are rounded and have a distinct hump on top of the head.
In India, the elephant holds cultural significance because they are symbolized as wise, loyal, and peaceful animals. They are sacred in myths and celebrations and form part of the national history. However, ironically, India is also the country where elephants are becoming endangered, becoming one of the problems, and in most cases, it is caused by the loss of habitats.
Some of the common threats faced by the elephants are:
- Poaching: There is a threat to the elephant population through illegal ivory trade all over the world despite international bans.
- Habitat Loss: The land elephants once freely roamed are decreasing as agricultural activities, urbanisation and infrastructure development expand.
- Encroach: As humans invade elephant territories, interaction may cause the loss of life on either side.
- Climate Change: Alteration of rainfall and vegetation patterns influence the food and water supply of elephants.
- Captivity and exploitation: Elephants are enslaved to work or entertain in certain areas, in poor conditions.
Elephants are also referred to as ecosystem engineers, owing to their power to alter the land where they live. They also dig out water in forests and this acts as a lifeline in dry seasons. They spread their dung to spread seeds far apart, which promotes diversity of plants. The extinction of elephants would imply the loss of the balance of the whole ecosystem.
How to Save the Elephants?
- Contribute in Conservation: Make a donation to organisations that are trying to help save elephant habitats and prevent poaching.
- Say No to Ivory Products: Do not use or purchase products containing ivory or containing any part of an elephant.
- Raise Awareness: Use social media to spread facts, stories and resources about elephants.
- Be Careful of Wild Elephants: Do not patronize unethical wildlife tourism in which elephants are used as rides or entertainers.
- Plant Trees and Habitat Protection: Protect and support local reforestation and wildlife corridors.
Conclusion
Celebrating Elephants on World Elephant Day is not only about celebrating elephants themselves, but acknowledging our collective part in their protection as a shared responsibility. With our own choices, contribution to ethical tourism, and by being vocal against exploitation, we can all make a difference in leaving a better world behind to our posterity where elephants can again be found in the wild.
Millions of years on the Earth, elephants have seen a lot of civilizations grow from the landscapes of their habitat. The World Elephant Day is not only about a species that is saved when we save elephants, it is an entire ecosystem that we are saving.
