THE MAJESTIC ELEPHANT
Elephants Paleo Sleuths roamed the earth 56 million years ago. The Elephant species originated in Africa and remained there for the next 33 million years. Twenty million years ago, elephant ancestors spread across land bridges from Africa to Europe to Asia. They reached North America 16 million years ago and South America 3 million years ago.
HOW MANY TYPES OF ELEPHANTS ARE THERE?
Basically there are two main species THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT and THE ASIAN ELEPHANT with the African Elephant having two sub species which are the Savannah Bush Elephant and the Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant having four sub-species including Sri Lankan Elephant, Indian Elephant, The Borneo Elephant and the Sumatran Elephant.
In addition to the above mentioned Elephants the Thai people are very familiar with Thai Elephants which have been The National Animal of Thailand since Ancient Times. They are often mentioned in legends, folk tales and history and even appear as historical evidence such as the legends of elephants as comrades fighting alongside kings in battles and albino elephants featured against a red-background of the Siamese flag during the reign of King Rama III.
Nowadays, Thailand places great importance of the conservation and care of Thai elephants. The government has designated 13 March of every year as ‘Thai Elephant Day’ in recognition of Thai elephants according to a cabinet resolution on 26 May 1998, and announced in the government gazette on 18 June 1998. The decision was made for Thai people to cherish and pay more attention to elephants and their conservation because Thai tradition has been closely associated with elephants since the past, and Thai people have respect and faith in elephants according to Buddhist beliefs. They are also related to the institutions of the nation, religion and monarchy. The establishment of Thai Elephant Day served as an official tribute to honor elephants aside from high regard for Elephants as the Majestic Animals of Kings.
Another agency that is committed to the conservation of Thai elephants is the Forest Industry Organization (FIO) which established the National Elephant Institute (NEI), also known at the time as the Elephant Training Centre Ban Pang La. Situated in Ban Pang La, Ban Huat Sub-district, Ngao District, Lampang Province, it is the first and only elephant training center in the world, well-known both at home and abroad. It has been operating since 1978 as a nursery for raising and training young elephants for obedience and expertise in logging. Later, the government had a policy to close the forest, causing the need to abolish the use of elephants in logging.
Many private and FIO elephants were left without jobs and were brought to the center. However, it was found that some elephants were still used illegally. When government officials arrested offenders, the elephants would be sent to the center during the trial. Most of the confiscated elephants were in deteriorating condition and some were crippled. The Elephant Training Centre at Ban Pang La was considered the largest elephant nursery in the world at the time.
Later, in 1991, the FIO moved the center to an area near Lampang-Chiang Mai Highway and elevated it to become the “Thai Elephant Conservation Centre” to preserve the art and identity of Thai elephant wood carving and serve as a source of information about elephants in Thailand. In 2002, the director of the center at the time asked Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra to grant royal permission to further elevate the center into the National Elephant Institute and expand the scope to cover all aspects of Thai elephant care as well as create sustainable conservation of elephants and preserve the culture of elephant raising as a legacy for future generations. The princess graciously accepted the offer, and the center was entitled National Elephant Institute Under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra”, which is a great honor for the FIO.
Now, NEI continually takes charge of conserving and caring for elephants at two elephant hospitals in Lampang Province and Krabi Province. Research, mobile veterinary activities, and an elephant care unit are all part of the project, so that Thai elephants can remain integral to the nation fore.
WHY SAVE THE ELEPHANTS?
Elephants are the world's gardeners and landscape engineers, planting seeds and creating habitat wherever they roam. Without urgent action to save their species, elephants could disappear from the wild within a single generation. Approximately 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory in just three years between the years 2010 & 2012.
We need to secure a future for elephants and to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between man and elephant.
Elephants are fast disappearing from the wild. Without urgent, international action they could be gone within a generation. The Elephant Crisis Fund provides rapid, catalytic support for the most effective projects designed to stop the killing, thwart traffickers and end the demand for ivory. 100% of all donations reach the field. Donating just a dollar a month may help save our elephants.
Save the Elephants is funded almost entirely by private donations. It is only through the generous support of donors that we are able to continue our important elephant conservation work. We rely entirely on funds, grants and donations from around the world, so thank you for helping us to secure a future for these fascinating creatures.
Our unique brand of conservation education encourages students to become ambassadors of their rich environment. We also give opportunities to friends around the world to help educate young minds and improve the infrastructure of their schools. Sponsor a child & help build a future for wildlife.
SAVE THE ELEPHANTS: MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION TO SAVE THE ELEPHANTS.ORG--- LIKE THE TENNIS SHOE AD SAYS: JUST DO IT!
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: What do elephants eat? Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark. An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day. These hungry animals do not sleep much, roaming great distances while foraging for the large quantities of food that they require to sustain their massive bodies.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: ELEPHANTS AND THEIR HABITAT.
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: The elephant brain is approximately three times larger than the human brain and current research shows most elephants never have a problem finding the TV clicker or their car keys?
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