World Elephant Day quotes and facts: August 12 is a day dedicated to the jumbos and it's observed every year to recognise the importance of the 'gentle giants' in the world's ecosystem. Unfortunately, across the globe, we lose elephants every year due to poaching. Jumbos also face other issues like mistreatment by humans, loss of habitat thanks to endless urbanisation and more. So this day is also meant to highlight these issues and make people understand how essential it is to safeguard elephants in today's world.
The day was first observed on August 12, 2012. World Elephant Day was co-founded by Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand, an initiative of HM Queen Sirikit. Ever since that, every year, World Elephant Day has been celebrated.
The significance of this day lies in the fact that it's a day when the issues faced by these animals are highlighted - loss of habitat due to deforestation, captivity and ill-treatment by humans and of course death by poaching. Like their giant size, elephants play a giant role in maintaining the earth's ecosystem and it's essential for life itself to preserve and protect elephants.
Elephants are literally running out of space and time! And if we are unable to work towards elephant protection and conservation, people should try and make a conscious effort to donate to organisations which are working to restore the jumbos' natural habitats, rehabilitate these animals and more. Patricia Sims, World Elephant Day Co-Founder, said, "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, protect wild elephant habitat, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely.”
“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” - Sir David Attenborough.
“Nature's great masterpiece an elephant; the only harmless great thing.” - John Donne.
"Only elephants should own ivory.” – Yao Ming
“Save the elephants… and then you save yourself.” - Mark Shand
“Elephants love reunions; they recognize one another after years and years of separation and greet each other with wild, boisterous joy.” - Jennifer Richard Jacobson.
“Elephants are so wise and so funny and so endangered and so intelligent. I just think there is a lot to learn from them.” - Gloria Steinem.
Here are 10 interesting facts on the gentle giants as provided by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF):