I had never seen an Elephant in real life until I was about 10, and I can remember being completely mesmerised by them. Now, I can't even count the number of Elephants I have seen. And it never gets old being able to witness these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.
This post isn't just me confessing my love for elephants. I wanted to draw attention to the fact that they could be extinct in our lifetime. How scary is that? Both African and Asian Elephants face threats such as the escalation of poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss and mistreatment in captivity.
When trying to tackle such a big issue like this, you can sometimes feel like there is nothing you can do the help. But there are so many different things you can do to help keep these animals alive.
Become more educated on threats to elephants and the solutions to such threats. Awareness is key.
Only visit Eco-tourism operations. Support those who treat elephants with respect and dignity and aid in conservation efforts.
You can also support any of the organisations listed here. Whether that is donating funds or simply sharing their efforts on social media. I personally support the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust through fostering Lasayen, an orphaned elephant who fell down a well.
And lastly, support World Elephant Day. Help raise awareness by expressing your concern and knowledge as well as solutions for the improvement of care for captive and wild elephants. Get involved and sign a pledge here to "support a world that protects elephants, wildlife and their habitat".
This post was written with aid from resources available from the World Elephant Day website.
Read more about World Elephant Day here.
Don't forget to use the #WorldElephantDay hashtag today. Make your voice heard for those who don't have a voice.
Sarah x