World Elephant Day - August 12

 

World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world's Elephants

 

Conceived in 2011 by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of  Canazwest Pctures and Sivaporn Dardarananda, Secretary-General of the Elephant RE-introduction Foundation in Thailand, it was officially founded, supported and launched by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation on August 12, 2012

Since that time, Patricia Sims continues to direct World Elephant Day, which is now supported by over 65 wildlife organizations and many individuals in countries across the globe

The goal of World Elephant Day is to create awareness around the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better care and management of captive and wild elephants

African elephants are listed as "Vulnerable" and Asian elephants as "Endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature( IUCN) Red List of threatened species

 

The demand for Ivory which is highest in China leads to the illegal poaching of both African and Asian elephants. 

Elephants are also poached for meat, leather, and body parts, with the illegal wildlife trade putting elephants increasingly in danger, because it is perceived to be a low risk and high profit endeavo