New Delhi: World Elephant Day, observed every August 12, reminds us of the plight of Asian and African Elephants. The elephant, with its majestic presence and gentle nature, holds a special place in the hearts and minds of people from diverse backgrounds and traditions across the globe. Despite this widespread adoration, we find ourselves perilously close to witnessing the extinction of this extraordinary animal. In this article, we will look into why World Elephant Day is important.
World Elephant Day 2024: What is the importance of the day?
World Elephant Day aims to raise awareness about the critical challenges faced by African and Asian elephants and promote information and effective solutions for improved care and protection of captive and wild elephant populations. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, African elephants are classified as “endangered,” while Asian elephants are listed as “Endangered.” Some conservationists have warned that both African and Asian elephants could become extinct within the next twelve years. Although the current population estimates stand at approximately 400,000 for African elephants and 40,000 for Asian elephants, there are concerns that these figures may be significantly overstated.
On World Elephant Day, various organisations and individuals join forces to advocate for the protection of elephants. This unique initiative encourages diverse groups to unite under the common cause of preserving these majestic creatures.
By fostering a collaborative global voice, World Elephant Day empowers citizens, decision-makers, and governments to develop and implement conservation measures to safeguard elephants, wildlife, and their habitats for generations.
In 2012, Canadian filmmakers, including Patricia Sims and Michael Clark from Canazwest Pictures, collaborated with Sivaporn Dardarananda, the Secretary-General of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand. Together with over 100 elephant conservation organisations from around the globe, they established World Elephant Day to raise awareness about elephants’ plight and advocate for their protection.
Asian and African Elephants are ‘Endangered’ according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Photo credit: Buena Vista Images/Stone/Getty Images)
How can we save Elephants from extinction?
Strengthening global conservation efforts and urging governments to take action to prevent deforestation and protect elephants’ natural habitats are imperative to saving elephants. The mistreatment of elephants in captivity must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible for such acts should be held accountable.
With elephants facing a critical shortage of space and time, the most impactful way to observe World Elephant Day is to contribute to organisations dedicated to restoring natural habitats, advocating for legislative changes, and rehabilitating these majestic animals.
In addition to financial contributions, it is important to educate oneself and others about elephant conservation efforts. One effective means of supporting this cause is to post about elephant conservation on social media while tagging relevant government authorities and ministers to bring attention to this important issue.
On August 12, World Elephant Day aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by elephants and advocates for their conservation and protection. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
