Coastin Carl
π SAVE the ELEPHANT Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
SAVE the ELEPHANT Day is celebrated on the 16th Day in April. It’s a big day for people who care about elephants. Use the day to tell everyone why elephants are important and what problems they face. Things like people hunting them for their tusks or not having enough space to live.
I DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT ELEPHANTS
Lots of groups work hard on that day to get the word out and ask for help. It’s a chance for everyone to think about how we can keep elephants safe.
Possible ORIGINS
Although the precise birth ofΒ SAVE the ELEPHANT Day is somewhat clouded, here’s what we’ve gathered so far regarding its origin story & history.
It’s important to note that the organization Save the Elephants was founded by Iain Douglas-Hamilton. Even though some sources list Patricia Sims below as the founder of SAVE the ELEPHANT Day in addition to World ELEPHANT Day, this is still very unclear.
World ELEPHANT Day started in 2012. It was set up by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation (ΰΈ‘ΰΈΉΰΈ₯ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈͺΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ£ΰΈ‘ΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈ΄) in Thailand. Patricia Sims, a filmmaker from Canada, helped to create this and World ELEPHANT Day. They tied the launch to a short film she made called Return to the Forest, which looked at elephants being reintroduced into wild spaces.
REASONS Behind the Holiday
Elephants are in real trouble. Poaching for ivory is a big part of it. Habitat loss of their land to farming and development adds to the problem. These challenges have led to a substantial decline in elephant populations across Africa and Asia. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day exists to wake people up to that and promote actions to protect and conserve elephant numbers.
GOALS of SAVE the ELEPHANT Day
- Raise Awareness β Educate the public about the threats elephants face. Get more people to care.
- Promote Conservation βΒ Teach people how human choices β like what we buy or how we use landβaffect elephants.
- Discourage Ivory Trade β Call out the ivory trade and stop the demand.
- Support Reintroduction Efforts βΒ Help groups and organizations working to protect and rehome elephants.
Significance in PRESENT Day
Still matters. Elephant populations havenβt bounced back. African elephants are endangered. Asian elephants are even more so. This day keeps the focus where it should be β on action. It gives people a reason to look up, speak up, or put their money toward a good cause.
PROVERBS 12:10 Scripture
The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
(The righteous show compassion and stewardship towards animals)
π HOW to Celebrate & Observe SAVE the ELEPHANT Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help you get started.
Here are some activities you can do on SAVE the ELEPHANT Day!
π STREAM, Post, Repeat
Watch a documentary like The Ivory Game or Return to the Forest to learn what elephants face. Share a few key facts online. Skip any ivoryβeven antiquesβand chip in what you can to a group thatβs doing the work on the ground.
Elephants: The Twilight of the Giants
Soul of the Elephant
The Elephant in the Living Room
π Get CRAFTY with Kids & Elephant Facts
Read a book or story about elephants, then keep it hands-on with crafts like masks or posters. Mix in a fact scavenger hunt to keep them thinking. Break things up with coloring pages and end the day with letters βto an elephantβ or to the rangers who protect them.
π Make it a HERD Effort
Host a fundraiser, show a film, or build a public display with your community. Add a nature walk or group art wall. Talk elephants, raise money, and leave people with something to think about.
π FAITH Meets the Wild
Open with a prayer or scripture on caring for creation. Add a bulletin note or a spoken mention of elephants and their protectors. Invite a guest speaker or share the next steps after the service. Quiet action, grounded in shared values.
SIMPLE PRAYER
God of all creation, You made the elephantβgentle, strong, and wise. Help us see the value in what youβve made. Help us protect it. Guard the ones who walk the forests and plains. Guide the people working to keep them safe. And stir us to act with courage, even in small ways.
Amen.
π FAMILY & CLASSROOM Activities
Celebrating SAVE the ELEPHANT Day can be a delightful and creative experience. Remember to tailor these activities based on the age group and preferences of the children or students involved. Let the kids Trumpet their fun and laughter in this special section!
Itβs also a great opportunity for teachers to build a simple thematic unit around elephantsβblending science (STEM), geography, reading, art, and empathy all in one. Whether itβs a one-day focus or a week-long project, this day gives educators a fun way to connect classroom lessons with real-world conservation.
Here are some child-friendly and playful ways for youngsters to celebrate the occasion and honor the intelligence of Elephants:
- Read an Elephant Book Together β Pick a book that features elephantsβfiction or nonfiction. For younger kids: Elmer, The Elephant and Piggie series, or The Saggy Baggy Elephant. For older students: The One and Only Ivan or How to Be an Elephant.
- Make Something Together β Create masks, finger puppets, or paper elephants. Draw, paint, or build elephants out of cardboard, clay, or whateverβs on hand. Add one elephant fact to each piece.
- Host a βTrunk Talkβ β Have each kid share one thing they learned about elephants. Keep it short. Let them draw or act it out if they want.
- Watch an Elephant Documentary or Short Video β Watch a short clip or a full documentary, depending on age. Nature: The Soul of the Elephant is calm and thoughtful. YouTube has age-friendly explainers from National Geographic Kids or BBC Earth.
- Write a Letter or Thank You Note β Write a note to an elephant protector (like a wildlife ranger), or write βto an elephantβ just for fun.
- Take a Simple Action β Try to go one day without plastic (to connect to habitat conservation) or without turning on lights in the daytime (to talk about climate). Call it βStomping Out Wasteβ or βPower Down for Pachyderms.β Donate change to a wildlife group, or talk about why ivory is a problem. Small steps count.
- Adopt an Elephant (symbolically) β Choose a conservation group with an elephant sponsorship program and let kids help pick the elephant. Get updates, photos, or a certificate that they can hang up. ElephantVoices and WWF are two organizations that let you adopt an elephant.
π RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #SaveTheElephantDay, #SaveTheElephants, #KnotOnMyPlanet, #WildlifeConservation, #ElephantLove, #ElephantLovers, #ProtectOurPlanet, #EndangeredSpecies, #ElephantConservation, #AnimalHolidays, #AprilHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you β€οΈ SAVE the ELEPHANT Day.
LEARN more about the importance of ELEPHANTS
SAVE THE BRAVE BABY ELEPHANT!
ELEPHANTS ARE A “KEYSTONE” SPECIES
ELEPHANTS FREED FROM CONCRETE PRISON
HERD OF ELEPHANTS RUSH TO GREET NEW BABY RESCUE
AFRICAN HONEY BEES SAVE ELEPHANTS
PROTECTING AFRICA’S ELEPHANTS
FIVE Important Facts you never knew about SAVE the ELEPHANT Day
- The holiday is about both African and Asian elephants.
- The day aims to inspire action, not just awareness. It calls attention to both poaching and habitat loss.
- It also complements World ELEPHANT Day, which takes place on August 12.
- Elephants mourn their dead and show signs of grief.
- They can recognize themselves in mirrors β rare among animals.
Famous PEOPLE also born on April 16th
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Wilbur Wright
American co-inventor of the airplane with his brother Orville. Born in Indiana, he helped launch human flight. Born 1867.
WILBUR WRIGHT Quote
“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through.”
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Charlie Chaplin
British silent film legend known for The Kid, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. His character βThe Trampβ became one of cinemaβs most iconic images. Born 1889.
CHARLIE CHAPLIN Quote
“Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is elephant.”
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
American NBA all-time scoring great (until LeBron passed him), famous for the skyhook. Off the court, he became a writer and outspoken activist for civil rights and education. Born 1947.
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR Quote
“You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go. Donβt ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body.”
Future DATES for SAVE the ELEPHANT Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 16 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 16 | Thursday |
| 2027 | April 16 | Friday |
| 2028 | April 16 | Sunday |
| 2029 | April 16 | Monday |
π Elephant FAQ
WHEN is SAVE the ELEPHANT Day?
- SAVE the ELEPHANT Day is an annual celebration held on April 16th each year.
Why do elephants need SAVING?
- Elephants are being killed for their tusks, losing their homes to development, and sometimes abused in tourism. Their numbers are dropping, especially in the wild.
Is this the SAME as World ELEPHANT Day?
- No. World ELEPHANT Day is on August 12. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day is on April 16. Both focus on similar issues.
The Impπrtance of SAVE the ELEPHANT Day
SAVE the ELEPHANT Day matters because elephants are in real dangerβpoaching, shrinking habitats, and human conflict are pushing them closer to extinction.
This day draws attention to whatβs happening and why it counts. Elephants arenβt just big animals; they shape entire ecosystems. When they disappear, forests and grasslands suffer too. Itβs also a chance to remind people that elephants are smart, social, and very emotional. They care for their young, grieve their dead, and remember places and faces for years to come.
By setting aside one day to focus on them, we put pressure on bad policies and inspire new generations to care. Itβs not just about saving elephantsβitβs about protecting the balance of the wild.
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Giving Elephants A VOICE
They canβt speak for themselves, but iHEARTdays can. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day tells us to use our voices to protect them from poaching, trafficking, and vanishing habitats.
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Calling Out The IVORY Trade
Elephants arenβt just at riskβtheyβre in crisis. This day keeps their struggles from fading into the background. Ivory looks like art to some, but itβs the product of violence. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day calls that out and pushes people to make better choices.
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Offering HOPE
Not all news is bad. In places where elephants are protected, numbers are going up. Ivory bans are working. Habitat corridors are being rebuilt. Rangers and local communities are making a difference. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day reminds us that action works β and that itβs worth showing up for.
