World Elephant Day

When Elephants Thrive, We Thrive

Did you know that the 12th of August is World Elephant Day? Launched in 2012 to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. It’s a day where elephants can thrive under care and protection.

A Place In My Heart

Elephants have always had a very special place in my heart. I am in absolute awe of these majestic animals and their intelligence and empathy. Whenever I travel up to Zambia to spend time on the Zambezi River, it’s always such a privilege to see them in their natural habitat. A few years ago, I visited the Lilayi Elephant Nursery in Lusaka which looks after orphaned elephants and helps to rehabilitate them into the Kafue National Park. You can read about my experience here on this post and you can help donate by clicking on this link.

The Amarula Trust

Up to 96 elephants are killed every day, yes day, not month or year, because of poaching. How absolutely shocking is that! This has led to the creation of The Amarula Trust.  which aims to safeguard the African elephant. Elephants play a vital role in the Marula harvest “Only once a year, at the peak of summer, the female Marula trees bear their unique fruit. When the scent of ripe Marula fills the air, the elephants travel vast distances in order to get a taste. This is our cue to begin the harvest. Local communities are an integral part of the process, and carefully hand-pick the fruit once the elephants have raised their trunks in approval.” 

We need to do everything in our power to help protect this keystone species in order to keep our ecosystems intact. This is what Amarula means by their “When elephants thrive, we thrive”slogan.

You can learn more about their 400,000 bespoke bottles here and what the message is behind each bottle.

Multiple award-winning conservationist and CEO of WidlifeDirect, Dr. Paula Kahumbu, is on a mission to make as many people as possible aware of the plight of the elephants through the campaign #Dontletthemdisappear – you can view more here.

Together, let’s raise our voices to protect our elephants – #Dontletthemdisappear !