A little reason to celebrate
World Elephant Day
Animal · Nature · August 12
World Elephant Day turns attention to African and Asian elephants, how they live in families, and simple ways to learn about them from afar.
World Elephant Day falls on Thursday, August 12, 2027. That is 289 days away.
A trunk can pluck a single blade of grass or tear down a branch, and an elephant uses it for nearly everything: breathing, smelling, drinking, greeting and lifting. World Elephant Day is an international observance about these animals, and it is marked in the United States too.
There are two kinds of elephants people usually mean. African elephants live across much of Africa and tend to have larger ears. Asian elephants live in parts of South and Southeast Asia and have smaller, rounder ears. Both are plant eaters and spend a large part of each day feeding.
Elephant life is built around family. Females and their young travel together in herds led by an older female, often called the matriarch. Young males usually leave the family group as they grow up. Elephants also communicate with low rumbling sounds, some too deep for people to hear.
Most people mark the day by learning something. A nature documentary, a library book or an accredited zoo's elephant talk can fill in a lot. Kids tend to like comparing their own hand to the size of an elephant footprint drawn on paper, which takes some tape and a generous sheet.
Watching elephants from a respectful distance shows how much they rely on touch. Calves often stay close to their mothers, and adults will rest a trunk on another elephant's back or head.
Ways to celebrate
- Watch a nature documentary about African or Asian elephants.
- Borrow a library book on how elephant families live.
- Learn how to tell African and Asian elephants apart by their ears.
- Visit an accredited zoo's elephant talk and watch from the viewing area.
- Draw a life-size elephant footprint outline with kids.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, August 12 |
| 2027 | Thursday, August 12 |
| 2028 | Saturday, August 12 |
| 2029 | Sunday, August 12 |
| 2030 | Monday, August 12 |
All national days on August 12
Also on August 12
Categories: Animal daysNature days