World Elephant Day asks you to experience elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive under care and protection. On World Elephant Day, August 12, express your concern, share your knowledge and support solutions for the better care of captive and wild elephants alike.
Elephants are some of the most interesting, lovable creatures to walk this planet. They’re gigantic, but they are also sweet, nurturing, and are known to have emotions similar to humans. They have some pretty amazing habits and behaviors, and learning about them is endlessly fascinating. It’s also incredibly important: Elephants are in danger thanks to poachers and hunters who are after their tusks for ivory. Aside from the threat of the ivory trade, elephants are losing their habitat and land due to harmful farming practices.
Elephants are an intelligent species that have an important role in biodiversity — read on for some fascinating facts that make it impossible to forget these creatures on World Elephant Day.
Elephants are the smartest land animals out there.
Elephants are known to be extremely intelligent, maybe even the most intelligent animals out there. They have been observed showing advanced problem-solving skills, and in recent years, scientists have discovered they are even smarter than they previously thought. According to Scientific American, they remember where certain water holes are located and return them, turn twigs into switches to get rid of flies, and plug drinking holes with balls of bark. And that’s only some of what elephants can do!
They are also the largest land animals on the globe.
It probably comes as no surprise that these gentle giants live up to their nickname—they are the largest land animal on Earth. African elephants can reach up to 13 feet tall. According to National Geographic, male African elephants can reach up to 13 feet tall and weigh between 5,000 and 14,000 pounds. Just look at the size of this elephant compared to its antelope neighbors!
They can detect water and rain from miles away.
What elephants lack in eyesight, they make up for in their sense of smell, which they use to detect water sources up to 12 miles away. They wave their trunks in the air to gather scent particles that give them not only the smell of water, but which direction and about how far away it is. This is integral to their survival, as adult elephants require about 20-50 gallons of water per day to stay hydrated.
But staying hydrated is only half the fun…
Bathing is also a normal part of an elephant’s routine, both out of necessity and pleasure. They bathe to stay cool as well as to protect their sensitive skin — especially that of calves. Plus, they simply love splashing, swimming and frolicking around in their watering holes!
Photo credit: indiatvnews.com
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I love elephants, they mourn for their dead. They’re amazing❤️