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At Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, our world revolves around elephants all of the time. But today, World Elephant Day, is a special day when those around the globe can take note and take action to help elephants in peril all over the world. World Elephant Day was founded over a decade ago, with millions of elephant-loving participants showing their concern about the plight of these beloved animals. 

Elephant welfare supporters are among the most loyal and dedicated, as you have shown us over the years. You care about wild and captive elephants everywhere and act as advocates for their wellbeing and safety. Today is a day when we can actively rally together and lend our voices to causes that deeply impact the lives of these species we are dedicated to saving. 

What issues most deeply impact elephants today? For elephants in the wild, illegal poaching and the trade of ivory and other products puts their lives in constant peril. They are also losing their wild habitats at an alarming rate. According to the World Elephant Day organization, elephant numbers have dropped by 62% over the last decade. They estimate that 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers. Asian elephants number less than a tenth of the African elephant population, largely due to the devastation of forest ecosystems. Worldwide, Asian elephants are stolen as infants, then cruelly trained and traded and used for entertainment purposes. 

But there’s no need to feel helpless about the future of elephant lives. There are a number of things that you can do to be a part of the solution. We can advocate for stronger protection policies for wild elephants both locally and globally and more stringent enforcement of laws against illegal ivory trade. We’ve witnessed firsthand the power of progressive legislation regarding captive animals here in South America, so we know that it’s possible to create better laws in other countries and continents. Captive elephants that can’t be reintroduced into the wild deserve full and free lives at sanctuary. Public pressure works. Join organizations that you believe in and do work on the ground – whether that means writing letters or posting on social media. Elephants need your voices. We can’t let them down. 

Photo of (L to R): Rana, Mara, and Guille