Refuse to ride elephants while traveling. Donate to rewilding projects and of course stop buying ivory — new or old. 🏞️
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.
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.
Although the precise birth of 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 (มูลนิธิคืนช้างสู่ธรรมชาติ) 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.
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.
Still matters. Elephant populations haven’t bounced back. African elephants are endangered. Asian elephants are even more so. This day keeps the focus where it should be — 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)
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!
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 ivory—even antiques—and chip in what you can to a group that’s doing the work on the ground.
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 “to an elephant” or to the rangers who protect them.
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.
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 elephant—gentle, strong, and wise. Help us see the value in what you’ve 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.
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!
It’s also a great opportunity for teachers to build a simple thematic unit around elephants—blending science (STEM), geography, reading, art, and empathy all in one. Whether it’s 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:
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 ❤️ SAVE the ELEPHANT Day.
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.”
British silent film legend known for The Kid, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. His character “The Tramp” became one of cinema’s most iconic images. Born 1889.
CHARLIE CHAPLIN Quote
“Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is elephant.”
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. Don’t ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body.”
| 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 |
SAVE the ELEPHANT Day matters because elephants are in real danger—poaching, shrinking habitats, and human conflict are pushing them closer to extinction.
This day draws attention to what’s happening and why it counts. Elephants aren’t just big animals; they shape entire ecosystems. When they disappear, forests and grasslands suffer too. It’s 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. It’s not just about saving elephants—it’s about protecting the balance of the wild.
They can’t 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.
Elephants aren’t just at risk—they’re in crisis. This day keeps their struggles from fading into the background. Ivory looks like art to some, but it’s the product of violence. SAVE the ELEPHANT Day calls that out and pushes people to make better choices.
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 – and that it’s worth showing up for.
🍌 National BANANA Day ORIGIN & HISTORY On the third Wednesday of April in 2017,…
🤟 National ASL Day ORIGIN & HISTORY National ASL Day is celebrated on the 15th…
🔠 National SCRABBLE Day ORIGIN & HISTORY If there was one thing my mother-in-law Carol…
🍬 National LICORICE Day ORIGIN & HISTORY National LICORICE Day was first celebrated in 2004…
💈 National BARBERSHOP QUARTET Day ORIGIN & HISTORY National BARBERSHOP QUARTET Day is celebrated on…
🌈 National UNICORN Day ORIGIN & HISTORY Neither the founder nor the creative origin of…