Rallying for the Giants: Save the Elephant Day – April 16, 2024

Rallying for the Giants
Save the Elephant Day – April 16, 2024

Save the Elephant Day, observed globally on April 16th, is a crucial event dedicated to highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by elephants. This day aims to draw attention to the significant decline in elephant populations worldwide and underscore the need for urgent conservation efforts.

Save the Elephant Day: Background

Elephants, the largest land animals found in Africa and Asia, are facing a serious decline, with just over 400,000 remaining in Africa. The decline is largely due to ivory poaching and other human activities. Save the Elephant Day, established in 2012 and observed globally on April 16, aims to combat this trend through education and awareness. It encourages action against the extinction of elephants.

Significant steps have been taken internationally to protect elephants, including a 1989 ban on ivory trade under the Convention on International Traffic in Endangered Species (CITES). Additionally, China banned all ivory sales in 2016, and the UK passed the Ivory Act in 2018, which could be extended to protect other species like hippos and narwhals. The day was co-founded by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand, with support from notable figures like William Shatner, who highlighted the cause in the documentary "Return to the Forest."

Conservation Status of Elephants in Thailand

Asian elephants are classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List (2021) and are protected under several Thai laws. They are listed in the strictest category by CITES, which restricts the trade of elephant parts except under special permits. In Thailand, elephants are designated as "Preserved animals" under the 2019 Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, and their tusks are specifically protected by the 2015 Elephant Ivory Tusks Act, which prohibits the killing, hunting, or trade of elephant parts without proper authorization.

Domestic elephants fall under the 1939 Beasts of Burden Act, requiring owners to register their elephants to curb smuggling. Thailand is also working on a new Elephant Act to improve policies related to elephant welfare and the management of elephant camps.

Elephants have long been revered in Thailand, playing a significant role in its culture and history. Here are some activities that support elephant conservation and help these majestic animals thrive in their natural habitats.

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Top 5 Elephant-Friendly Activities to Enjoy

NO.5 Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour

NO.4 Phuket: Elephant Save & Care Program Tour

NO.3 Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon and Elephant Sanctuary Tour

NO.2 From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

NO.1 Phuket: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Half-Day Visit with Meal

Transforming Elephant Welfare in Thailand
From Exploitation to Conservation

Ending Harmful Practices: Here are 5 practices related to elephants in Thailand that should be avoided because they harm the animals

1. Elephant Rides: Supporting elephant rides promotes a practice that often involves harsh training methods and can lead to long-term health issues for the elephants due to the weight and strain of carrying tourists.

2. Elephant Shows and Performances: These shows often involve forcing elephants to perform unnatural and stressful tricks, typically after undergoing cruel training techniques to ensure compliance.

3. Unethical Elephant Camps: Visiting or supporting elephant camps that do not adhere to ethical treatment standards contributes to the mistreatment of elephants. Such camps often lack proper veterinary care, adequate food, and suitable living conditions.

4. Purchasing Elephant Ivory: Buying ivory or other elephant-derived products encourages poaching and the illegal trade in elephant parts, directly contributing to the decline in wild elephant populations.

5. Feeding Wild Elephants: Interacting with wild elephants by feeding them can disrupt their natural foraging habits, make them dependent on human-provided food, and increase the risk of human-elephant conflicts.

   The future of these amazing animals depends on us choosing to act ethically and protect them. Let’s make the right choices to ensure elephants thrive in their natural environments.

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