World Elephant Day. Photo: pexels.com
World Elephant Day: Poaching is killing the African elephant
Endangered elephants are at the brink of extinction due to poaching.
World Elephant Day. Photo: pexels.com
World Elephant Day is an initiative that aims at building global awareness to the conservation and protection of life-threatened elephants.
“World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organizations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory. And other wildlife products, protecting wild elephant habitats to provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely.”
Patricia Sims, World Elephant Day Co-Founder
What is the day all about?
This day essentially facilitates different organizations and global citizens to participate in campaigns under the umbrella of World Elephant Day.
This issue crosses political boundaries and many countries, in a solid request of collaboration in attempts to make a safer world for elephants and wildlife.
When did World Elephant Day start?
World Elephant Day was launched in 2012 to spotlight attention on the conservation of Asian and African elephants.
World Elephant Day: What are the aims?
- Working towards better protection for wild elephants.
- Improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory.
- Conserving elephant habitats, better treatment for captive elephants.
- Reintroducing captive elephants into natural, protected sanctuaries.
The poaching problem
The African elephant is under siege due to poaching. Further research proves that elephant poaching caused the deaths of 400 animals in Botswana since 2017.
“This evidence suggests that ivory poaching on the scale of hundreds of elephants per year has been occurring in northern Botswana since 2017 or possibly earlier.”
Elephants Without Borders
Mozambique has first female anti-poaching rangers
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De Beers is well intricately involved
According to World Elephant Day, De Beers Group ecology team stated that the best way to save wildlife, its plants and finding new homes for 200 of the elephants:
“Moving Giants is the type of project that can only happen when a corporation empowers its employees to think big.
Finding a viable solution took a lot of people who were deeply committed to doing right by these elephants, thinking outside of the box. I think this also demonstrates the power of partnerships. We can do more when we work together and capitalize on each other’s expertise.”
Mpumi Zikalala, Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations.
