Charity Navigator Celebrates World Elephant Day!

Saturday is World Elephant Day!

Keeping it honest, I’m obsessed with a lot of things and I love to talk about them. My most spoken about obsession is elephants. It’s to the point that my coworkers (special thanks to Kevin!) send me random gifs of elephants doing things I never thought I’d see!

Elephants are truly one of the most awesome creatures on the planet. They’re intelligent, emotionally driven, and develop close bonds with their families. Elephants enjoy playing, art, music, and more! While they can’t jump or run, elephants are excellent swimmers and use their trunk to breathe while underwater. Researchers have witnessed elephants do astonishing things, like performing funeral rituals and adopting other animals. Around the world, elephants are culturally significant, often symbolizing luck, wisdom, and strength.

Through activities like poaching, habitat destruction, and poor treatment in captivity, elephants have been mistreated by human beings to the extent that they are endangered. World Elephant Day challenges us to, “...experience elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive under care and protection.” Check out the organizations below nurturing and advocating for elephants:

• The Elephant Sanctuary The nation’s largest natural habitat refuge for endangered elephants
• African Wildlife Foundation Ensuring the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever
• Performing Animal Welfare Society Dedicated to the protection of performing animals
• Wildlife Conservation Network The spirit of innovation in conservation