Elephants are highly social and form tight family groups. Here, a family enjoys time together at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve.
Stunning Pictures of Elephants
World Elephant Day marks a time to reflect on the plight of the charismatic animals.
Since 2012, August 12 has been celebrated as World Elephant Day, a time to honor the big, intelligent animals and reflect on their plight.
"The elephant is loved, revered, and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature," says the official website for the day, which was created by Canadian conservationist Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand.
More than a hundred organizations around the world celebrate World Elephant Day with events and media campaigns, which have involved millions of people.
Elephants and their ancestors once roamed much of the Earth, but wild populations are now confined to decreasing swaths of land in Africa
