On this World Elephant Day, let’s champion the cause of these majestic beings grappling with a world transformed by human activities.
Our duty extends beyond the present generation of elephants to ensure a harmonious coexistence for future generations.
Caring for a baby elephant demands unwavering dedication and love, commencing long before they take their inaugural steps.
Elephants boast the most extended gestation period among mammals, a staggering 22 months.
During this period, mothers navigate challenging conditions, covering vast distances and confronting the daily trials of life in the wild.
Once born, immediate assistance from their mother and caretakers propels baby elephants onto their feet, marking the beginning of a lifetime spent in the warm embrace of their family.
Creating a secure environment is essential for elephants to thrive throughout their lives.
The Orphans’ Project endeavors to restore a sense of family to rescued elephants, aligning with their ingrained need for familial bonds. Unfortunately, human actions pose a significant threat.
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports rising temperatures, sea levels, and habitat destruction due to human settlements, farms, and factories.
As climate change unfolds, elephants must adapt to survive, facing challenges in coping with shifts in temperature, precipitation, and vegetation patterns affecting their food and water sources.
Our fieldwork reveals the impact of these changes, rescuing orphaned elephants like Emoli, who suffered in a drought, Lemeki separated during a flood, and Ziwadi, who was traumatized by human-wildlife conflict.
Each rescued orphan with a unique story is fortunate to receive a second chance.
Mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants involves installing fences along crucial wildlife borders.
The mission extends to rescuing orphaned elephants in Kenya and ensuring their enduring survival in the wild, considering elephants’ potential lifespan of over 70 years.
Our projects focus on protecting vital ecosystems, eliminating threats, providing essential medical care, and strategizing against the effects of climate change.
Charcoal burning harms the environment by reducing carbon-absorbing trees, leading to bushfires threatening wildlife habitats.
Remaining optimistic, we can learn from the success of the ivory poaching crisis.
Legislative actions, closing ivory markets, and global conservation efforts resulted in a 97 percent decline in elephant poaching in Kenya from 2012 to 2020.
On this World Elephant Day, let’s renew our commitment to protecting these magnificent creatures, ensuring a secure future for future generations.
It’s time for us to reciprocate the care elephants show their kind.
Together, let’s build a world where we can forever appreciate the beauty of these gentle giants.
Read more Elephant News.