Without this gentle giant, environmental crisis will deepen and life will get tougher. The elephant is not only a mammoth, adorable animal, but it is also plays a very important role in saving our environment. Today is 12th August and we are celebrating World Elephant day.
Wild elephants play an important role in the development and expansion of forests. Herds of elephants feed on low-carbon sequestering trees, and the nutrients present in them benefit the high-carbon sequestering trees. Thus, a balance is maintained in the forest and as the forest grows, the speed of carbon absorption also increases.
World Elephant Day is observed to promote awareness about the need for elephant conservation. India is home to 60% of Asian elephant population. Project Elephant in the country is a vital initiative that plays a significant role in conserving these magnificent creatures. It was launched in 1991-92 and is a centrally sponsored scheme for conservation of elephants.
More than 30,000 elephants live in the wild in India. However, there are only about 1200 tuskers (male) elephants alive in India, making them just as endangered as tigers. The South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are home to nearly 44% of the elephants in India.
HOW IT STARTED?
The original idea to commomorate a day for elephant was put forth by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canazwest Pictures, and Sivaporn Dardarananda, Secretary-General of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand, in 2011. Later, it was initiated by Patricia Sims and Elephant’s Introduction Foundation in the year 2011, but the official announcement to celebrate World Elephant Day was made on August 12, 2012. Since then, this day is supported by over 65 wildlife organisations and individuals across the globe.The main purpose of celebrating World Elephant Day is to take necessary steps for the rehabilitation of elephants, better health, to stop the illegal smuggling of elephants, and attract worldwide attention towards the vanishing number of elephants from all over the world, and to spread awareness for their protection and promote conservation.
Let us see how India celebrated World Elephant Day 2023 –
India’s Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav posted a video and said, “Standing tall as guardians of the wild, about 60% of all Asian elephants🐘live in India.
On #WorldElephantDay, reiterating India’s commitment to protect these gentle giants.
Proud that the number of elephant reserves has risen in the last 9 years. I laud all those involved in protecting elephants.”
Standing tall as guardians of the wild, about 60% of all Asian elephants🐘live in India.
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) August 12, 2023
On #WorldElephantDay, reiterating India's commitment to protect these gentle giants.
Proud that the number of elephant reserves has risen in the last 9 years. I laud all those involved in… pic.twitter.com/Bu3j2BwvJL
Tamil Nadu chief Minister M K Stalin posted a beautiful short documentary about Indian Elephants on X (Twitter). He wrote, “Happy #WorldElephantDay! 🐘 Tamil Nadu Government is committed to protecting its precious wildlife. With the notification of the new Agathiyamalai Elephant Reserve, upgradation of two elephant camps, restoration of degraded forests, empowerment of elephant caretakers, modernisation of forest force and innovative solutions with AI-enabled surveillance using thermal cameras, we are committed to conservation of elephants.
The #TNElephantConclave in Coimbatore reinforces our dedication to elephant conservation. Together, let’s secure a brighter future for these gentle giants.”
Happy #WorldElephantDay! 🐘
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 12, 2023
Tamil Nadu Government is committed to protecting its precious wildlife. With the notification of the new Agathiyamalai Elephant Reserve, upgradation of two elephant camps, restoration of degraded forests, empowerment of elephant caretakers,… pic.twitter.com/xj275oDzee
1991 batch IAS officer Supriya Sahu, who is Addl Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change & Forests, Govt of Tamil Nadu, posted: “My secret wish – To be born as an elephant, to be like an elephant – to be as majestic, gracious, forgiving, intelligent, affectionate and gentle as an elephant. Happy world elephant Day. Earth is blessed to have these gentle giants #WorldElephantDay #ElephantDay #worldelephantday #elephants video- at the retirement ceremony for Kaleem, our gentle giant Kozhikamudi camp in Anamalai Tiger Reserve.”
My secret wish
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) August 12, 2023
To be born as an elephant, to be like an elephant – to be as majestic, gracious, forgiving, intelligent, affectionate and gentle as an elephant. Happy world elephant Day. Earth is blessed to have these gentle giants #WorldElephantDay #ElephantDay… pic.twitter.com/WFbwJoFwyX
On this world Elephant Day lets take a pledge to protect conserve and cherish our gentle giants. Here is a stunning film from Tamil Nadu to celebrate the day by the most talented @shaazjung. Thank you Shaaz. We are truly honoured. #WorldElephantDay #ElephantDay #elephants… pic.twitter.com/gyXuFoe2sc
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) August 12, 2023
Central Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate_Change posted a video on Asian Elephants Social Organization and wrote, “Asian elephants live in tight-knit matriarchal herds, led by a wise and experienced female. These intelligent beings exhibit strong bonds, cooperation, and empathy within their social groups.”
Asian elephants live in tight-knit matriarchal herds, led by a wise and experienced female. These intelligent beings exhibit strong bonds, cooperation, and empathy within their social groups.#WorldElephantDay2023#WorldElephantDay#MissionLiFE#ProPlanetPeople pic.twitter.com/W7sQHGCk3Q
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) August 12, 2023
2016 batch IFS officer Parveen Kaswan posted, “Elephants crossing the road. Or road is crossing the forest, their home. Today is #WorldElephantDay.”
#Elephants crossing the road. Or road is crossing the forest, their home. Today is #WorldElephantDay. pic.twitter.com/MNYPbbAQSF
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) August 12, 2023
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted, “Embracing the spirit of #WorldElephantDay, let us celebrate and protect these magnificent giants who play a vital role in our ecosystems.
Assam has taken several steps to preserve elephant habitats and reduce man-elephant conflicts in the best possible way.”
Embracing the spirit of #WorldElephantDay, let us celebrate and protect these magnificent giants who play a vital role in our ecosystems.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 12, 2023
Assam has taken several steps to preserve elephant habitats and reduce man-elephant conflicts in the best possible way. pic.twitter.com/9YFPzHHVvZ
2016 batch IFS officer Akashdeep Badhawan posted, “Meet Pawankali, the senior most camp elephant of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve with a rather excellent nose for sniffing out tigers. During one such rescue operation in Katarniaghat. Let’s celebrate #WorldElephantDay for they made the forests!”
Meet Pawankali, the senior most camp elephant of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve with a rather excellent nose for sniffing out tigers. During one such rescue operation in Katarniaghat.
— Akash Deep Badhawan, IFS (@aakashbadhawan) August 12, 2023
Let’s celebrate #WorldElephantDay for they made the forests! @DudhwaTR @UpforestUp pic.twitter.com/Ak89y0r35g
2021 batch IFS officer Ramesh Vishnoi posted, “When the elephants walk, the forests walk with them.” #WorldElephantDay
When the elephants walk, the forests walks with them. #WorldElephantDay pic.twitter.com/H6wtCbTPl9
— Ramesh Bishnoi IFS (@joy_bishnoi) August 12, 2023
Senior IAS officer Dr Rajat Bhargava posted a video and wrote, “#ProjectElephant is a vital initiative that plays a significant role in conserving these magnificent creatures.”
#Elephant is intelligent, affectionate and a gentle giant. Conservation and Protection of biodiversity are indeed necessary to propel a sustainable environment on Earth #WorldElephantDay2023@moefcc #RajatBhargavaIAS pic.twitter.com/klcQNzYNRx
— Dr Rajat Bhargava IAS (@rajat_ias) August 12, 2023
IRAS officer Aanth Rupanagudi posted, “A friendly elephant calf at Kaziranga December 2010!”
A friendly elephant calf at Kaziranga December 2010! #WorldElephantDay pic.twitter.com/ejRuz6jfsN
— Ananth Rupanagudi (@Ananth_IRAS) August 12, 2023
BN Adhikari who is Ex-Director, DD News, Ministry of I&B, Govt of India posted avideo of a birth of elephant baby and wrote, “Today is the #WorldElephantDay
India is home to the largest population of Wild #AsianElephants. Watch the birth of a baby elephant. 👇
Today is the #WorldElephantDay #India is home to the largest population of Wild #AsianElephants. Watch the birth of a baby elephant. 👇@byadavbjp @PIBBhubaneswar @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi pic.twitter.com/V80F5NcA10
— BN Adhikari (@AdhikariBN) August 12, 2023
