August 12 "World Elephant Day"

August 12 of each year coincides with World Elephant Day, first established in 2011 by Canadian documentary filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canaz West Pictures, and Mr. Shivaporn Exhibition, Secretary of the Return of Elephants to Nature Foundation in Thailand, for the conservation of elephants and awareness of the problems faced by elephants, ivory hunting, habitat destruction and improper use of elephants in the tourist industry.

Elephants are the largest mammalian land species, and are of the highest importance in tropical forest ecosystems, because digging soil helps create balloons, which provide food for other wild animals; elephant droppings or feces help to spread certain species of wood that feed other animals; and elephants are a measure of the fertility of the forest. In addition, a white elephant or elephant with auspicious characteristics according to the monarch is considered a double animal and a national symbol.

Elephants around the world are currently facing a variety of threats, both hunting elephants for tusks, losing habitat, and being improperly used in the tourist industry, especially the remaining estimated 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants.

The elephant is a wild animal and a symbol of the nation that has been with the Thai people for a long time in history, cultural arts and beliefs. We should take care and respect the lives of elephants with dignity. We can contribute to the conservation of elephants by spreading the knowledge of elephants even more widely so that Thai elephants and elephants around the world can be with us and the world for as long as possible.

Source: Website of the Elephant Return to Nature Foundation www.elephantreintroduction.org

# National Parks Department, Wildlife and Plant Species # World Elephant Day # 12 August # World Elephant Day 2025 # Wild elephant