The Sanctuary Celebrates World Elephant Day

First recognized in 2012, World Elephant Day is a global effort dedicated to raising awareness about the critical issues facing elephants and promoting their conservation. World Elephant Day serves as a platform to honor elephants as keystone species and inspire action to ensure their survival for generations to come. At The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, we aim to educate our community about elephants and the importance of protecting them and preserving their natural habitats. Each year, on August 12, through various educational programs, events, and outreach initiatives, we seek to engage folks of all ages, inspiring a sense of responsibility toward wildlife conservation.

This year, The Elephant Discovery Center hosted Trunk Trivia, in-person and online, in celebration of World Elephant Day. From obscure elephant biology to conservation, the questions were packed with fun elephant knowledge. Supporters from all over our community and the globe participated, showing us some impressive elephant expertise.

If you missed our Trunk Trivia event, don't worry. You can test your knowledge here! 

World Elephant Day is always an exciting affair for the elephants!

Thanks to The Sanctuary Care Staff, our elephant residents also celebrated, receiving special enrichment in honor of the big day. Artie discovered tires stuffed with bamboo, browse, banana leaves, and a refreshing watermelon popsicle in his habitat! He knocked over the frozen treat first and then went for the tasty browse, seemingly enjoying rolling around the tires to search for every last bite. Across the property, the Q herd received apples and popsicles decorated like globes, hay balls, and culverts stuffed with grass and bamboo. 

World Elephant Day is not just a one-day event but a reminder of the ongoing efforts needed to protect and conserve these important species and their habitats. We want to thank the state of Tennessee and Governor Bill Lee for once again helping us declare August as “Elephant Awareness Month” across the state by signing an official proclamation. “It is important for the public to be educated about the welfare of all species of elephants in captivity as well as in the wild,” the proclamation reads. “The Elephant Sanctuary continually sets and reaches goals to better the lives of elephants worldwide.” Other AZA organizations across Tennessee joined in to encourage their supporters to take action for elephants, too. Thank you to all who made this year’s World Elephant Day a success!