World Elephant Day

When is World Elephant Day?

World Elephant Day is an annual event held on the 12th August. Launched in 2012, World Elephant Day aims to raise public awareness to the plight of both Asian and African elephants.

3 facts about elephants

1. Elephants live in close family groups

Elephants form strong emotional bonds with other members of their herd. They’re strongly social animals and will rest for longer if another elephant is also resting nearby.

2. Elephants are individuals

Each elephant has their own individual personality. Their personality traits influence their social role within the herd and even how they try to solve problems.

3. Elephants are playful

Elephants love to play, and not just as youngsters. Fully-grown elephants throw water into the air, roll on the ground, and even chase other animals simply for fun.

Why elephants need protection

Due to their size and power, elephants rarely have to worry about being hunted by other animals. Their biggest threats all come from humans.

Elephants are exploited for tourism

One of the biggest threats to elephants comes from the tourism and entertainment industries. Well-meaning tourists are encouraged to take part in various activities with the elephants, such as rides, washing, bathing, and feeding.

Although these seem harmless, being ridden is not natural elephant behaviour. These tourist attractions often inflict significant suffering on the elephants involved.

Circuses and elephant ‘shows’ raise similar concerns. Elephants in these shows are trained to perform a series of unnatural (and sometimes painful) activities, such as standing on their hind legs. They are then forced to perform in a noisy, intimidating environment focused on human entertainment at the expense of animal welfare.

Even supposedly ethical tourist experiences, such as assisting at ‘sanctuaries’ and washing elephants, are traumatic for elephants. These are commercial ventures where animals are subjected to pain and fear from an early age to force them to be compliant.

Elephants are hunted for ivory

Despite growing awareness of the true cost of ivory, it’s estimated that poachers still kill approximately 20,000 elephants every year for their tusks. 

This level of killing may even be changing elephant genetics. Elephants in the wild are increasingly born with smaller tusks, or even tuskless. This is at least partly because individuals with larger tusks are removed from the gene pool by poachers.'

Join our fight against the exploitation and commodification of wild animals. 

FAQs and facts about elephants

Take a look at these elephant facts to learn more about these magnificent mammals.

How do elephants communicate?

Elephants communicate through very low-pitched sounds. These are too low for human hearing but can be heard by elephants over a mile away. They also use touch to communicate with nearby members of their herd.

How much does an elephant weigh?

The weight of an elephant depends on its species. African savannah elephants are the largest, weighing up to 8,000 kg, while African elephants are the smallest, weighing around 5,400 kg. The Asian forest elephant sits between the two at 5,500 kg.

How much does a baby elephant weigh?

Newborn elephants weigh around 100 kg and are around 1 metre tall.

How long do elephants live?

African elephants live for up to 74 years, while Asian elephants live 6 years longer on average.

Are elephants endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies African savannah and Asian elephants as endangered, while African forest elephants are critically endangered.

What is the difference between Asian elephants and African elephants?

When comparing the Asian elephant vs. the African elephant, there are lots of differences. African elephants are bigger, heavier, and have larger ears than Asian elephants. They also have wrinklier skin.

Which is the largest elephant in the world?

Elephants are the largest living land mammals, and the largest elephant in the world is the African savannah elephant. These majestic mammals are between 3 and 4 metres tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 8,000 kg.

What is a group of elephants called?

A group of elephants is most commonly called a herd. However, you may also hear it referred to as a memory or a parade of elephants.

What are the different types of elephants?

There are three different types of elephants: the African savannah elephant (also known as the African bush elephant), the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

Where do elephants live? What is an elephant's habitat?

An elephant’s habitat varies depending on its species.

African savannah elephants live in sub-Saharan grasslands and wooded savannahs, while African forest elephants live in dense rainforests in West and Central Africa, and Asian elephants live in forests, swamps, and grasslands in countries including India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

How many African elephants are left in the world?

The African elephant population is decreasing. There are thought to be only around 415,428 elephants left in the wild.

Sadly, many elephants are kept in captivity as part of cruel elephant breeding programs where they’re used and abused for entertainment and wildlife tourism, including painful elephant rides.

What are elephant tusks made of?

The tusks of an elephant are made from ivory. Unfortunately, these tusks make elephants a target for poachers looking to supply the ivory trade.

What do elephants eat?

Elephants are herbivores that eat over 300 different types of plants, including a variety of harasses, roots, fruits, and bark.