Impact

BEAUTIFUL WILD GREY GIANTS IN BODY, MIND, & SOUL

“A group of African elephants crossing the road in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park, Kenya, East Africa,” by Diana Robinson.

by Diana Robinson. “A group of African elephants crossing the road in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park, Kenya, East Africa.” Kenya, Africa.

ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

Big, grey and beautiful, elephants are incredible creatures. Elephant intelligence has been compared with that of primates and cetaceans.

by RayMorris1 “An African myth considers the elephant to be a "Wise Chief." African Elephant. Kenya. Africa.

They are one of the few animals that appear to have self-awareness and the capacity for empathy.

by Pauline Guilmot. “Elephant.” African Elephant.

Yet despite their wonders, African elephants are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) while the Asian elephant is classed as endangered. Their populations have been decimated by poaching as well as via habitat destruction.

by aotaro. “Elephant.” Asian Elephant.

The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) aims to create a sustainable future for African and Asian elephants. They generate and effectively invest resources to support elephant conservation, education, research, and management programs worldwide.

by flowcomm. “Elephant.” African Elephant. South Africa. Africa.

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) weigh 4–7 tons (8,000–14,000 lbs) and stand 8–14 feet tall. Both sexes have tusks but male tusks are larger and heavier. The tips of their trunks have 2 finger-like projections.

by Yathin. “African elephant (Loxodonta africana).” Namibia. Africa.

African elephants are found roaming through the grasslands, scrub, and forests of Africa. Families are organized around female groups. Adult males are solitary or form loose social relationships. Currently, there are around 400,000 – 500,000 living in the whole continent of Africa.

by William Warby. “Baby Elephant.” Asian Elephant. Asia.

These countries are looking for ways to reduce their elephant numbers through translocation programs, birth control, and potentially culling.

by Senorhorst Jahnsen. “Elephants Beach Walk.” Asian Elephant. Andaman Islands. Asia.

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) weigh 3–7 tons (6,000–14,000 lbs.) and stand 7–12 feet tall. Some males have large tusks. Females and some males have tusks called “tushes” which seldom extend beyond the upper lip. The tip of an Asian elephant trunk has a 1 finger-like projection.

by Brian Gratwicke. “Asian Elephant and baby.” India. Asia.

Asian elephants live in the forests of Southeast Asia. They are endangered primarily due to loss of habitat. Numbers are currently around 30,000 – 50,000. About 20 percent of the world’s human population lives in or near the present range of the Asian elephant.

by Tore Bustad Elephant Asian Elephant Thailand Asia

Thailand has cleared almost all its lowland forest, creating a huge void of wildlife habitat in the heart of the country. Indo-China’s forests were seriously damaged during 30 years of constant warfare. More forest land, however, has been cleared since the Vietnam War ended than during it.

by Bernard DUPONT “Big Tusker (Loxodonta africana).” South Africa. Africa.

IEF Africa Programs include the Big Tusker Project, which provides protection for Tsavo’s Iconic “Tuskers.” The Tsavo Conservation Area holds Kenya’s largest elephant population with the world’s largest sustainable gene pool of elephants carrying exceptionally large ivory (+100 lbs/tusk). See additional IEF programs Tanzania, Zambia, & Uganda.

by Tambako The Jaguar. “Playing with mom's leg!” Asian Elephant.

IEF Asia Programs include Community-Based Human Elephant Conflict Management in Bhutan, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, & Indonesia.

Donate to IEF Now to help save beautiful grey elephants.

by Alex Berger. “The Elephants of Tarangire National Park.” Tanzania. Africa.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

by Henti Smith. “Elephant.” African Elephant. South Africa. Africa.

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“Elephants d Afrique,” by Charles-Emile de Tournemine. Courtesy of Musée d'Orsay.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Diana Robinson. “A group of African elephants crossing the road in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park, Kenya, East Africa.” Africa
Image: by RayMorris1 “An African myth considers the elephant to be a "Wise Chief." African Elephant. Kenya. Africa.
Image: by Pauline Guilmot. “Elephant.” African Elephant. Africa.
Image: by aotaro. “Elephant.” Asian Elephant. Asia.
Image: by flowcomm. “Elephant.” African Elephant. South Africa.
Image: by Yathin. “African elephant (Loxodonta africana).” Namibia. Africa.
Image: by William Warby. “Baby Elephant.” Asian Elephant. Asia.
Image: by Senorhorst Jahnsen. “Elephants Beach Walk.” Asian Elephant. Andaman Islands. Asia.
Image: by Brian Gratwicke. “Asian Elephant and baby.” India. Asia.
Image: by Tore Bustad. “Elephant.” Asian Elephant. Thailand. Asia.
Image: by Bernard DUPONT “Big Tusker (Loxodonta africana).” South Africa. Africa.
Image: by Tambako The Jaguar. “Playing with mom's leg!” Asian Elephant.
Image: by Alex Berger. “The Elephants of Tarangire National Park.” Tanzania. Africa.
Image: by Henti Smith. “Elephant.” African Elephant. South Africa. Africa.
Image: by BN App - Download now!
Image: “Elephants d Afrique,” by Charles-Emile de Tournemine. Courtesy of Musée d'Orsay.