National Elephant Appreciation Day – September 22, 2022, history significance why we celebrate
National Elephant Appreciation Day is a great time to give these majestic and beautiful creatures the respect they deserve. Elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth, so it’s only right that they have a day completely dedicated to them. Sadly, humans are increasingly placing the elephant’s future at risk. So, whether you’re a lifelong elephant lover or not, take time on September 22 to learn about these amazing pachyderms.
History of National Elephant Appreciation Day
The origin and history of the National Elephant Appreciation Day date back to 1996. The day was established by Wayne Hepburn, the founder of Mission Media Inc. He commemorated this day once after his fascination for the elephant started after his daughter’s gift. The gift was a paperweight of elephants on parade which made him completely fascinated about the largest mammal kind on the planet
He began to read a large number of elephant books and other paraphernalia which kindled his interest in celebrating such a day. Take some time to appreciate these lovely creatures. There are many interesting facts that make elephants different from other animals. Elephants are the large mammals of the family Elephantidae. They are living throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Elephants are profoundly intelligent animals with an average lifespan of about 60 to 70 years. They live in groups and will develop remarkably close family bonds. Elephants are extremely playful animals who love to play in the water. Elephants can play, laugh, cry, and show mirror self-recognition. They are herbivorous animals and eat plants from grass to trees. They are fond of bananas, cabbage, lettuce, apples, and other fruits and vegetables.
It is important to note that elephants are facing innumerable threats as they are involved in the ivory trade as their ivory tusks are stolen. Deforestation, habitat destruction, and conflicts with local people are other threats faced by the elephants. So it is indeed important to take all the aspects in the notice and to help the elephants get out from reaching the extinct state of living as the Asian elephant are classed as endangered.
NATIONAL ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY TIMELINE
279 BC
Elephants helped win a battle
When Pyrrhus invaded southern Italy, he used elephants to help him win a very bloody battle.
1514
An elephant fit for a Pope
Portugese king Manuel I sent Pope Leo X an elephant as an elaborate gift .
1882
P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo the elephant
The London Zoological Society sold Jumbo the Elephant to circus developer P.T. Barnum for £2,000 — igniting a major controversy.
1996
National Elephant Appreciation Day began
Publisher Wayne Hepburn started it all after an elephant paperweight gift sparked his interest.
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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY
Visit elephants in the zoo
If you’re lucky, you might get to watch the elephants during feeding time or have the opportunity to ask about what life is like for zoo elephants.
Do elephant arts and crafts
Pop over to your nearest craft store, and you’ll be well on your way to creating adorable masks, handprint art, and even cute T-shirts.
Read about elephants
Make it a point to grab a book that will help you brush up on your elephant trivia.
4 MORE REASONS TO SAVE THE ELEPHANTS
Spilled something? Call an elephant to help you pick it up
There’s so much dexterity in an elephant’s trunk —it can pick up the tiniest of particles.
Elephant babies show their independence
Baby elephants, blind shortly after birth, can nonetheless stand up and function quite well.
Old man elephant
Elephants have life expectancies of 50 to 70 years.
The mice myth
They’re not afraid of mice; some African communities actually use elephants to help keep field mice out of crops.
WHY NATIONAL ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY IS IMPORTANT
They’re endangered
Hunting has severely reduced the number of elephants left in the world. Thankfully, organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Elephant Foundation are working hard to protect African and Asian elephants.
They’re emotional
Pay attention to an elephant for a little while, and it’ll be easy to feel connected. Elephants are able to display fear, joy, excitement, and even grief. They’re also very social, meaning they’re more like humans than you may have realized.
Elephants respect their elders
Elephant “respect” comes through age and wisdom — not aggression. Many elephants follow around the oldest female because she knows where to find food and shelter.
