CELEBRATING ELEPHANTS

I have always had a love of elephants since a young child. Even rode a few and once at the Philly zoo when little a zookeeper actually took me into the pen to see one up close. It was amazing how big it was and yet so graceful. I was smitten then. World Elephant Day is an international awareness campaign dedicated to the conservation and protection of our planet's biggest animal. The day aims to raise awareness of the threats facing elephants, including its biggest issue-habitat loss, in addition to poaching and human-elephant conflict, and to promote efforts to ensure the survival of African, Indian and Asian elephants' species. World Elephant Day was first launched in 2012 by filmmakers Patrica Sims and Michael Clark in conjunction with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. The day provide a platform for organizations, government and individuals to come to together, share knowledge and participate in initiative aimed at protecting elephants and their habitats.

I have been a long member of the Sheldrick Trust, world -renowned for its work rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned baby elephants, and others that have had injuries, conflicts and sickness. It was founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick to honor her late husband, David Sheldrick. Since 2001 it has been run by their daughter Angela, who put together a monthly newsletter to feature it's elephants and the months accomplishments and pictures of the elephants. Her mother was the only person to ever make the perfect milk formula and combination for baby elephants, one that imitated the mother's milk perfectly. To date they have saved and reintroduced over 600 elephants back into existing herds in the wild. And many might not know just how social elephants are...and the feelings they have. Many develop close bonds to their human mid wives and husbands...many, once back in the wild, return years later, and still remember the sanctuary and their handlers. They return to say hi and sometimes to introduce them to their own little babies and their next generation. The Sheldrick Trust has raised multi generations now and it's exciting to see. Their emails are always a welcome site, sometimes smile and laugh and sometimes tears. The Trust also has a variety of other animals in addition to elephants. They are a swell foundation, and I shutter to even think where the population of elephants would be without them. Today, when I make my donation, it will be in Dame Daphne's memory.

Happy World Elephant Day!

 

To celebrate, if anyone is inclined to make a donation you can head here to show your support and love of these extraordinary creatures. Or just peruse their site...it's amazing.