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Earth Day is a day to feel gratitude for this place we call home and demonstrate support of environmental protection. This planet not only gives life, but gorgeous sunsets, beaches, mountains, trees, and (of course) elephants! We feel gratitude every day for this incredible place, and we hope you do too.

The theme of Earth Day this year is “Restore Our Earth.” Humans have not always understood our impact on the planet and haven’t always been the best stewards of this gift we have been given. Climate change impacts species across the globe – and education can bring about the transformation and restoration needed to care for one another and our collective home: Earth. We are all living in a moment where we are encouraged to practice empathy toward one another, and that includes the plants and animals that enrich our lives, our future, and our planet.

Elephants are considered a keystone species, which means they are essential to the survival, growth, and ultimate outcome of their ecosystem. In Africa, numerous species of trees depend on elephants to disperse their seeds by eating their fruit. If elephants were to disappear, everything in the world they touch – from trees, to seeds, to ecological growth and harmony – would be irrevocably changed. Our sanctuary has flourished because the elephants clear invasive vines and create paths that allow light to reach once-hidden land that can now grow and recover. After last year’s devastating wildfire, we see that the elephants’ grazing has encouraged regrowth within the habitat that is exceeding the growth that surrounds it. Though they are large, the elephants here bring balance to the land. We are lucky to witness it and do not take it for granted.

Every day that we spend here at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil reminds us of how precious the land is and how incredible the natural world can be, if allowed to heal. We hope that your love and respect for these elephants may extend beyond the borders here at ESB, to your own neighborhood and surroundings. You can have an impact on the future of the planet by taking even the smallest of steps. Spend time outside and witness the beauty of your own neighborhoods; open a window or breathe in the fresh air; appreciate the sunshine and the sky. Grow a garden, if you can. Getting your hands in the dirt can be transformational. Learn more about wildlife around the world. We guarantee all of this will inspire you to begin or continue your own restoration of Earth. Small steps become larger ones. Individuals become communities, which become a movement for change. Celebrate your commitment to what sustains us this #EarthDay2021