Across Asia, Africa and around the globe, there were events and actions on World Elephant Day, August 12, to highlight the critical role that everyone has to play in reduce ivory consumption and by building pressure for a global ban on ivory trade.
As the plight of elephants has grown more dire in recent years, the activities around World Elephant Day have ramped up.
A host of organizations launched new efforts or campaigns on that day. Perhaps the cutest is an essay contest to meet Naledi, the baby elephant featured in a recent documentary.
While the past year has had some victories in the fight against poaching and the ivory trade, we aren’t celebrating. There is still much to be done to protect elephants and so many other species facing extinction.