When is World Elephant Day?
“Global momentum to shut down ivory markets provides reason to celebrate on World Elephant Day 2024.”
World Elephant Day 2024 is coming! “Millions of animal lovers around the world are raising a cheer for nature’s biggest land animal, the elephant.”
Here’s the strangest part. Most of us first saw real live elephants at the circus. I know I did, as a boy, when the Clyde Beatty Circus came to town. We loved ’em. Loved those harnessed giant animals trotting so proudly into centre ring. Loved their scantily clad female riders, too. It was only later when the stories of cruelty to circus animals came out that we welcomed the closing of those circuses. [1]
We don’t get to see live elephants much anymore. But we still love ’em, eh?
It’s almost World Elephant Day. Monday, Aug 12, 2024. And a time to look at what’s going on.
“On this World Elephant Day we’re celebrating the global momentum to shut down all ivory markets. Awareness and action are definitely leading to change. That said, we need to keep the pressure on and close the door for good to stop the killing and stop the trade. Ivory trade anywhere threatens elephants everywhere,” stated Grace Ge Gabriel, Asia Regional Director for the IFAW [2].
To learn more, visit IFAW’s “African Bush Elephants” Page: How can you help protect elephants?
“HEY LOOK GUYS! SOMEDAY I’M GONNA HAVE BIG TUSKS! ISN’T IT GREAT?”
It’s estimated that at least 20,000 elephants a year are poached for their ivory. So IFAW is advocating for a complete ban on international ivory trade. The closure of domestic ivory markets wherever they occur and the destruction of ivory stockpiles.
“Bringing the world together to help elephants. A world that protects elephants, wildlife and their habitat.” WorldElephantDay.org
Even eBay has declared it’s advocating for laws to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in partnership with IFAW. Supporting the creation of World Elephant Day.
Other recent positive developments include the announcement by China to close down its commercial ivory markets by the end of 2023. The US finalizing its near-total ivory ban in 2016. Calls by Australia and the European Union for a ban on ivory sales. The UK Big Ivory Surrender. And the destruction by many countries — most recently the US — of stockpiles of confiscated ivory.
Here’s the frightening news. Grace Ge Gabriel has explained that rampant ivory trade in the past ten years has heightened fear for the survival of elephants.
More than 100,000 elephants were poached for the illegal trade between 2010 and 2012. At least 13 seizures of consignments of smuggled ivory weighing more than 800 kg each in 2011. And the disappearance due to poaching of 62% of the population of forest elephants. The numbers have increased in the decade since. The battle is being especially waged in Africa and India. [3]
Replanting trees in India is a brave new attempt to re-establish Elephant Habitats.
“To end the poaching of elephants, we have to smash every link on the trade chain. From market supply to consumer demand,” Grace added.
IFAW works with international organizations to combat wildlife and environmental crime.
This includes INTERPOL and national law enforcement bodies. In collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), IFAW started a pilot project in Kenya called tenBoma. This project uses the newest data technology to enable rangers and enforcers to stop poachers before they kill.
In consumer countries like China, IFAW is raising awareness to stop people from buying wildlife products. And is conducting educational sessions to equip enforcers with the necessary expertise to detect illegal wildlife products.
As Grace Ge Gabriel has concluded, “Killing elephants for their ivory, slaughtering tigers for their pelts and bones, and fatally hacking the horns off rhinos have reached epidemic proportions in recent years.”
The Battle Continues!
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
Do you agree with this Wildlife Post?
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Footnotes
[1] “Animal Rights, Circuses, Tarzan & PETA XXX” — A Remembrance of Boyhood Heroes… When I was a kid in the late 1950’s, I loved the circus. What boy didn’t? When the Clyde Beatty Circus came to foggy old Saint John City… To read the complete post, go to Animal Rights, Circuses, Tarzan & PETA XXX
[2] About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare): “Founded in 1969, IFAW rescues and protects animals around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals. And works to prevent cruelty to animals. As well as advocating for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on social at @action4ifaw and Facebook/IFAW.”
[3] “India is home to more than a billion of the world’s people — a number that has quadrupled in the past seventy years. That growth has decimated the country’s elephant habitats. Today, those habitats are only 3.5% of their former size, and more fragmented than ever. Yet, almost 60% of the world’s Asian elephants live on the great subcontinent.” – IFAW
As mentioned above, India has developed a number of Plant a Tree programs that are showing the rest of the world how to re-establish wildlife habitats.
In fact, you will notice that on “Green” days and “Earth” days the greatest number of positive social media posts are coming from India!
World Elephant Day 2024 – Are Elephants Endangered? Save The Elephants.
Source: International Fund for Animal Welfare, PRNewswire & Civilized Bears.
UPDATED April 10, 2024.
