Psalm 150:6 - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Most people know the saying "an elephant never forgets", but these incredibly intelligent and social animals have many more fascinating traits: they can "communicate" through vibrations in the ground (seismic signals that help maintain contact and warn of danger); they have extremely strong family bonds, with females remaining within family groups for life and practising allomothering - babysitting, caring for and protecting other calves; as ecosystem engineers they shape landscapes by clearing pathways, dispersing seeds and creating small waterholes that sustain plants and other wildlife; every elephant has a unique combination of ear shape, notches, tears and other markings; researchers have observed elephants mourning deceased family members, touching and remaining close to their bodies; and they have excellent memories - recognising relatives by scent even after years apart.
When we safeguard elephants, we're protecting highly intelligent, sentient beings. Thank you World Elephant Day for raising awareness of the plight of elephants in Africa and across the globe.
