Today is Save the Elephant Day!

Today is Save the Elephant Day. The purpose is to draw attention to the threats facing elephants including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Established by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand in 2012, Save the Elephant Day is observed annually on April 16th.

Elephants are the largest land animals and are spread across Africa and Asia. Recent studies estimate that there are approximately 400,000 elephants across the African continent, and although the situation differs from country to country, the giant mammals are in decline. Human activities such as poaching for ivory remain a significant reason. However, in 1989, Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned most international commercial ivory trade marking a turning point in coordinated elephant protection; and in 2018, China, the world's largest ivory market, banned all ivory sales.

Check out these interesting facts about elephants:

(1) Species are distinguished by their ears. The ears of African elephants are much larger than Asian elephants.

(2) An elephant calf can stand within 20 minutes of being born and is able to walk within 1 hour.

(3) Elephants display a range of emotions such as joy, anger, and grief and live in complex social structures – matriarchal herds for the female cows and calves and a solitary lifestyle or bachelor herds for the male bulls.

(4) Elephants' impressive trunks provide them with an excellent sense of smell, a handy snorkel when swimming, and even a delicate nutcracker.

(5) Elephants throw dust or mud on themselves to protect their skin from sunburn and insect bites. It’s their natural sunscreen and bug repellent!

(6) Drones (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have become increasingly important for wildlife research. With their buzzing propellers, which can sound like a swarm of bees, drones have been used to chase elephants from African farms. But when flown in a way designed to minimise disturbance, elephants learn to ignore them.

According to Days of the Year, "Research has shown that elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors, remember the locations of water sources for many years, and distinguish between different human languages, suggesting a level of cognition comparable in some respects to great apes."

And now, let's pivot to marketing and check out some famous brands featuring elephants in their logos and brand storytelling:

EVERNOTE

According to Instagram, the brand's tagline is "Remember everything. Accomplish anything," and as a mobile note-taking app, it definitely delivers. The logo also features an elephant, an animal known for remembering. According to Scientific American, "Elephants possess remarkable, long-term, and spatial memory essential for survival, enabling them to recognize individuals, locate water sources over decades, and mourn the dead. Their highly developed brains, specifically the hippocampus, support complex social structures and navigation, allowing matriarchs to remember distant resources during droughts."

ANIMAL PLANET

According to Wikipedia, "On October 15, 2018, Animal Planet unveiled a new logo, featuring a symbol of a jumping elephant resembling the original logo. The new branding symbolized a new mission of keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way."

THAI TASTE

In 2018, Thai Taste launched a redesign of its logo and features the subtle shape of the head of an elephant, the official animal of Thailand. The logo also changed from yellow gold to a vibrant pink, a color that has been associated with the brand since its launch in the late 1990s, to reflect all the vibrancy of Thailand and its culture.

SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

According to its website, "The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation, and protection of wildlife and habitats. Working across Kenya, our projects include anti-poaching, safe guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescuing and hand rearing elephant and rhino orphans, along with other species that can ultimately enjoy a quality of life in wild terms when grown. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a global leader in elephant conservation and one of Africa's most respected wildlife charities. Founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, the charity was created to build upon the conservation vision of her late husband, David Sheldrick, the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park, Kenya's oldest and largest national park. We are best known for our pioneering Orphans' Project, a first-of-its-kind program to rescue, raise, and rewild orphaned elephants and rhinos."

ELLA+MILA

According to its website, "Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after nail polishes, this line of lacquer was born from the simple idea of creating an eco-friendly yet high-end product. Initially inspired by the twin daughters (darlingly named Ella and Mila) of one of the founders, the luxury brand took sail. ella+mila releases a new collection of lacquer every couple of months, promising on-trend high-fashion shades and prompting many "FINALLY! The color I've been looking for!" As of June 2017, ella+mila has dipped their feet into the color cosmetics world and launched 10 liquid lipsticks. All the liquid lipsticks are enriched with Vitamin E and have a refreshing mint scent to ensure your lips are moisturized and smelling fresh throughout the day. With a passion for color and dedication to healthy beauty, the founders strive to provide fashion-forward beauty products without compromise. Like their nail lacquer, the newly-launched line of lippies are also vegan, cruelty-free, and proudly made in the USA.  The deeply-admired luxury beauty brand continues to allure the world with its creamy formula and dazzling array of colors."

The elephant logo symbolizes love, family, and memory, reflecting the brand's origins as a family-focused, cruelty-free company created by Narineh Bedrossian for use when she was pregnant with her twin daughters, Ella and Mila. The playful image of an elephant on all of the brand's products represents the brand's gentle, safe, and vegan nature. Elephants are recognized for their deep family bonds, love, and loyalty, aligning with the brand's "Mommy & Me" focus.

HORTON HEARS A WHO!

Over the years, children have been introduced to elephants while reading the classic story, "Horton Hears a Who!," which was written and illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel under the pen name Dr. Seuss. Published by Random House in 1954, the book tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his adventures saving Whoville, a tiny planet located on a speck of dust, from the animals who mock him. These animals attempt to steal and burn the speck of dust, so Horton goes to great lengths to save Whoville from being incinerated. 

"A person's a person, no matter how small" is the most popular line from Horton Hears a Who!. According to Wikipedia, "Horton endures harassment to care for and ensure the safety of the Whos, who represent the insignificant. Unlike some of Dr. Seuss' books, Horton contains a strong moral message, which has been identified as "universal, multinational, multi-ethnic. In a word: Equality." Horton Hears a Who! has been well received in libraries, schools, and homes across the world. The book has been adapted as a 1970 television special and a 2008 animated film by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation, and much of its plot was incorporated into the Broadway musical production Seussical."

BABAR THE ELEPHANT

One of the most memorable books from my childhood featured a family of elephants from Paris, France. The father was Babar, who was a fashionable dresser in his three-piece green suit, red bow tie, and either a black hat or crown. According to Mental Floss, "For some, more than an ambassador from an elephant kingdom, Babar shows the world what it means to be French—which includes exercising every morning before your croissant. General Charles de Gaulle famously loved the elephant because he gave the world “a certain idea of France,” and former cultural minister Frédéric Mitterrand bestowed a medal of arts and letters upon Laurent (the son of the original author)."

Which other famous brands either feature elephants in their logos or promote elephant conservation? Chime in and share.

Image Credits: Wikipedia (Horton Hears a Who!), Animal Planet, Bol.com (Babar), Thai Taste, and Evernote.

Learn how to foster future generations of elephants, rescue orphaned wildlife, protect Kenya's habitats, and support coexistence:

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/