Celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day Every September 22

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Every year on September 22, we celebrate the elephant with Elephant Appreciation Day.

Elephants are amazing creatures, and we can’t seem to help being fascinated by them.

The creator of this day, Wayne Hapburn, was especially captivated by elephants (obviously). His obsession apparently started after his daughter gave him an elephant paperweight. He was soon collecting books and other elephant-related items.

Finally, he created Elephant Appreciation Day in 1996. (Technically his company, Mission Media Inc., created the day, but he was the inspiration behind it).

Learn more about the origins of this day here.

Of course, Mr. Hepburn isn’t the only person who loves elephants. So many people love elephants so much,we have multiple days devoted to them. In addition to Elephant Appreciation Day, there’s also:

• World Elephant Day, and
• Save the Elephants Day

Sadly, so far loving elephants doesn’t seem to be enough to save them. Most species are threatened with extinction as humans destroy their habitat and kill them for their ivory. The Asian elephants are in the most trouble, and they’re listed as endangered. African elephants are listed as vulnerable.

Conservation efforts have helped some elephant populations, and bans on ivory trading is reducing the demand for ivory, but not enough.

 

A Trunkful of Elephant Trivia

Elephants are the biggest land mammals in the world. The male African elephant can weight as much as 15,000 pounds and grow to 13 ft in height.

Despite their huge size, they’re quick. They can run at up to 35 miles per hour!

Elephants may not look anything like us, but they’re more like us than you might realize.

• Elephants are very intelligent. And yes, they have amazing memories, because their hippocampus (where memories are stored) is very large.
• Elephants love to play, especially in the water (like really, really big kids!).
• They form strong family bonds and can live from 60 to 70 years, on average.
• They appear to mourn the death of their family members.
• Elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror. Only a few animals can do that.
• They have their own language and even different dialects!

 

Elephants are Herbivores. They eat just about any plants they can find.

In Asia, some people use elephants as working animals.

You’ll find elephants in lots of popular culture, literature, art, and religion. Yes, we really do love our elephants.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficially huge holiday.

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Ideas For Celebrating Elephant Appreciation Day

Clearly it’s a day to appreciate the elephants.

So visit the elephants at the zoo. Marvel at their size.

Donate to elephant conservation efforts.

Follow Elephant Appreciation Day on Facebook.

Read about elephants:

• The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, by Lawrence Anthony: Animal conservationist Lawrence Anthony brought a herd of elephants to his game reserve to save their lives. Here he write about what he learned from them.
• Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II, by Vicki Croke: Learn about Billy Williams, his love of elephants and how he and they made an inspiring team in WWII.
• Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived, by Ralph Helfer: A boy and an elephant grow up and grow old together. A beautiful story. (But “true story” may be an exaggeration; most likely a fictional account based on a true story).

 

For your kids, check out Ellie & Ollie (Elephant’s) Kid Zone.

Or consider one of these books:

• Elephants: A Book for Children, by Steve Bloom: Recommended for preschool and kindergarten aged children, this book has beautiful pictures of elephants alongside interesting facts.
• All About Elephants, by Karen Darlington: Fun facts and vivid photos.
• Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends, by Carol Buckley: Retired circus elephant Tarra befriends stray dog Bella. Recommended for ages 3-5.

 

And we just can’t resist cute elephant videos.

Like this one of a baby trying to figure out that walking thing (and how to avoid stepping on that trunk!):

 

Or this silly baby enjoying her kiddy pool:

 

And this one of a very talented painter:

 

How will you be appreciating elephants on September 22? How about the rest of the year?

 

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