Today is National Elephant Appreciation Day!

Today is definitely the day to appreciate large animals, as along with being World Rhino Day, it is National Elephant Appreciation Day as well! Nationaltoday (dot) com says today, "is a great time to give these majestic and beautiful creatures the respect they deserve. Elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth, so it’s only right they have a day completely dedicated to them. Sadly, humans are increasingly placing the elephant’s future at risk. So, whether you’re a lifelong elephant lover or not, take time on September 22 to learn about these amazing pachyderms."

There are three species of elephant - my favorite is the Pygmy Elephant, which my grandsons and I wrote about in our second book in our Life on the Goldilocks Planet series - Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! which you will find at this link. In our book we said;

• Pygmy Elephants are the smallest elephant, ranging in size from six to eight feet tall compared to 13 feet tall for Asian and African Elephants.
• When a baby Pygmy Elephant cries, the entire herd will gather around and "hug" it with their trunks!
• They are able to communicate with "sub-sonic" rumblings which vibrate through the ground.

All elephants are amazing, did you know . . . 

• Elephants don’t drink with their trunks as if it were a straw, but instead use them as a glass holding the water then pouring it into their mouths.
• The elephant is the only mammal which can’t jump.
• Elephants purr like cats do, as a means of communication.

• African elephants are the largest land mammals on the planet, and the females of this species undergo the longest pregnancy—22 months.
• Elephants don’t like peanuts. They don’t eat them in the wild, and zoos don’t feed them to their captive elephants.
• Asian elephants don’t run. Running requires lifting all four feet at once, but elephants filmed in Thailand always kept at least two on the ground at all times.
• Like human toddlers, great apes, magpies and dolphins, elephants have passed the mirror test—they recognize themselves in a mirror.
• Elephants can live to be over 70 years old.
• Elephants cry, play, have incredible memories, and laugh.
• Elephants are highly sensitive and caring animals. if a baby elephant complains, the entire family will rumble and go over to touch and caress it. Elephants express grief, compassion, self-awareness, altruism and play.
• Elephants are social creatures. They sometimes “hug” by wrapping their trunks together in displays of greeting and affection.     

Elephants really are amazing creatures! I imagine God had fun . . . and perhaps a chuckle or two . . . when He created elephants! You will find more elephant fun facts at this link.

Today on National Elephant Appreciation Day gather the ones you love and take time to learn about this amazing animal then consider ways to help their survival - such as "adopting" an elephant through the World Wildlife Fund at this link.

I was going to suggest eating something with peanut butter today in honor of elephants, but since they do not really eat peanuts, I guess I'll suggest laughing, hugging and spending time with those you love! Enjoy!