On this day we celebrate Elephants!
To coincide with World Elephant Day, we’d like to invite you to get to know more about this amazing species. We've got some simple and fun ways to show your support; from learning some fascinating facts about elephants, to crafting an elephant lantern.
Bornean Elephant officially recognised as distinct subspecies
A key piece of elephant news this year (26 June) was the IUCN officially recognising the world’s smallest elephant, the Bornean Elephant, as a distinct subspecies of the Asian Elephant. This meant the Bornean Elephant received its very own Red List status: endangered, due to its small and declining population which poses a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The Asian elephant is one of three elephant species alive today – the other two are the African savanna and forest elephants. With an estimated 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants animals surviving in the wild, spread across 13 countries of southern Asia, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has been classified as Endangered by the IUCN since 1986.
Elephants play a crucial role as keystone species in Borneo, where they coexist with numerous other endangered species unique to the region.
To mark the occasion, here's some of our favourite pictures of Bornean elephants.
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© Kaisa Siren / WWF
Bornean Elephant in Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia.
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© Chris J Ratcliffe / WWF-UK
Bornean elephant walks through an oil palm plantation and eat trunks of 'chipped' old oil palm trees at Sabah Softwoods in the state of Sabah, Borneo.
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© Christy Williams / WWF
Bornean elephant "Roselis" with satellite collar in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, North Borneo, Malaysia.
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© naturepl.com / Juan Carlos Munoz / WWF
Bornean elephant in lowland rainforest, Rio Sungai Kinabatangan, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia.
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© naturepl.com / Tim Laman / WWF
Close up of Bornean elephant (Elephaa maximus borneensis).
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© WWF-Malaysia
Bornean Elephant is the largest mammal in Borneo. This species is a subspecies of Asian elephant that inhabits North-eastern Borneo.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Engelbert Dausip
Two Bornean elephants linking trunks. Elephants are known to be very tactile animals and use touch as a means of giving and receiving reassurance.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Engelbert Dausip
A herd of Bornean elephants in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Female elephants live in close family groups, led by the matriarch.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Stephen Hogg
Two Bornean elephants in water. Elephants use their trunk as a snorkel when crossing deep bodies of water.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Raymond Alfred
Aerial image of a herd of Bornean elephants in the forest.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Engelbert Dausip
A very muddy Bornean elephant.
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© WWF-Malaysia / Engelbert Dausip
Bornean elephant covered in green foliage.
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Learn about elephants
Find out more about African and Asian elephants, their habitats, and the threats they face.
Test your Elephant knowledge
Top 10 facts about elephants
World Elephant day activities
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© Martin Harvey / WWFMore Conservation Solutions: Land For Life - Primary Schools Live Less…
Learn about some of the amazing wildlife in Kenya and Tanzania and recognise the consequences that occur when natural ecosystem connections are altered or damaged by humans. Understand how solutions are being used to manage human-wildlife conflict so that humans and nature can thrive together in East Africa.
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© Tristan FewingsMore Make a elephant lantern
Why not share your love for these incredible creatures by making your own colourful elephant lantern.
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