Did you know that there is a whole day dedicated to elephants? This day is September 22, and it is called National Elephant Appreciation Day. This day is dedicated to celebrating everything about elephants. If you love elephants as much as we do, here is why elephants are so important and ways to celebrate this special day. 

Why are elephants so important?

Elephants, just like any other living species, play a critical role in their habitats. Losing the world’s largest mammal could be devastating to the African and Asian grasslands and forests. What is their exact role? Elephants support other animals and species. 

These large animals use their size to help many animals in their habitat have shelter, acquire food and water. Elephants tend to knock down trees to eat their roots or leaves. The trees that get knocked down provide shelter to smaller animals and allow them to have access to food that would otherwise be out of reach.

Aside from providing shelter, elephants also promote biodiversity in plants. As the largest land mammal, elephants eat a lot. An elephant can eat up to 300 pounds of food in a day. Although they eat a lot, much of it does not get fully digested. This undigested food comes out of an elephant as dung. They drop dung filled with seeds along their journey across grasslands and forests. This process helps spread seeds to other locations, and the dung helps fertilize the seeds.

Ways to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day

Now that you know why elephants are worth appreciating, it is time to learn of some ways to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day. 

Visit your local zoo

If you are lucky enough to live near a zoo with elephants, consider visiting their exhibit. You will get a close look at how elephants move and interact with each other. Plus, it is a great opportunity to support elephant conservation. 

Spread the word on social media

The average Internet user spends on average two hours and 24 minutes on social media each day. Use this time to your advantage to help spread the importance of saving elephants. You can post a cute picture of elephants or share a post from your favorite elephant conservation nonprofit. 

Educate yourself 

One of the best ways to support elephants is by educating yourself. Learning about why elephant conservation is important will help you share that information with friends and family. In addition, you can educate yourself by keeping up with the latest elephant news, blog posts or watching a documentary. 

Make a donation

If you want to help elephant conservation 365 days a year, then join the Herd of Heroes. This donation program allows you to make a monthly donation of your choice that supports our mission to help elephants around the world through research, community and education. 

Want to support elephants? 

If you want to learn more about how you can save elephants, visit our website! There you can buy our elephant apparel, make a one time donation, listen to our podcast or read our research. Do not forget to also subscribe for our newsletter to keep up with the latest elephant news.