National Elephant Appreciation Day

National Elephant Appreciation Day is dedicated to majestic, intelligent, and beautiful animals that deserve attention and respect. Among land animals, elephants are the largest, so it is not surprising that they deserve a personal holiday. Additionally, one of the reasons for celebrating National Elephant Appreciation Day is their declining numbers. If no action is taken to protect them, they are threatened with extinction.

Historical Dates Associated with Elephants

In 279 BC, elephants took part in a bloody battle in southern Italy. General Pyrrhus used them, and they assured victory. In 1514, the monarch of Portugal, Manuel I, presented an elephant to Pope Leo X. In 1914, a resonant event took place – the Zoological Society sold the elephant Jumbo to the circus for 2 thousand pounds sterling. National Elephant Appreciation Day was celebrated for the first time in 1996, founded by publisher Wayne Hepburn.

Interesting Facts

• An elephant’s trunk is so dexterous that it can pick up a grain of rice from the floor.
• Elephants are born blind, but they are completely independent.
• The life expectancy of an elephant is 50 to 70 years.
• The version that elephants are afraid of mice is a myth; some African tribes use these giants to scare away rodents.

How to Take Part

Visit the zoo and see the elephants. Of course, it is much more interesting and exciting to watch them in natural conditions, but not everyone has the opportunity. Learn more about these animals, read books, watch films, and documentaries. If you love creativity, visit the nearest craft store – you can make a bag with an elephant picture, embroider a T-shirt, or decorate a cup or plate.

When is National Elephant Appreciation Day in 2024?

National Elephant Appreciation Day is observed on September 22 each year.

Observations