How to Help Protect Elephants by Volunteering Abroad [World Elephant Day 2024 Special]

Last Updated: August 12, 2024

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August 12th is World Elephant Day, which is initiated to make people aware about the value of these Asian and African Giants in the ecosystem of planet Earth. Today, we will explore the significance of elephants in this world, why and how we can protect them, and what can be your role as international while you enroll in the activities of elephant care and protection.

Elephants are an elemental part of our ecosystem. They create waterholes, disperse seed which is a very intrinsic part of the grassland ecosystem. Presence of these giant beasts is significant for biodiversity and climate regulation. There it is important for all of us to realize the value of elephants and do everything we can to protect elephants.

How to Help Protect Elephants

Here are some necessary steps we can take to protect elephants.

Stop poaching

National or international organizations, government authorities and even individuals should work together to combat wildlife trafficking at local, regional and international levels. We should support actions to combat poaching of elephants.

Mitigate human-elephant conflicts

Local authorities should be committed to helping local people live in harmony with wildlife, and are implementing measures and should support to ease conflicts between humans and elephants.

Protecting elephant habitat

Responsible authorities should work on the ground to preserve elephant habitats and migration corridors around the  protected areas, and to ensure elephants have access to essential resources such as food and water.

Study About Elephants

There are studies conducted on the evolution of elephant populations and their migrations in order to safeguard the most critical habitats as a priority. Also different organizations carry out training and learning sessions about protecting elephants, enrolling these activities will make us aware of elephants' role in the ecosystem.

Become a Volunteer

One of the direct approaches to help protect the wild elephants is by becoming a volunteer in the elephant care programs. There are different volunteering programs in countries like Sri Lanka, Kenya and Nepal where you can participate.

Volunteer for Elephant Conservation Program in Sri Lanka

Volunteer in Sri Lanka to protect endangered elephants. Gain hands-on experience caring for these majestic animals, from monitoring health to assisting in veterinary care. Contribute to conservation efforts and raise awareness about threats to elephants.

Types of Elephant Volunteer Programs in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers diverse elephant volunteer programs that support conservation efforts in various ways. Some focus on rehabilitating injured or orphaned elephants to prepare them for release back into the wild. Others prioritize scientific research, gathering data on elephant behavior and ecology to guide conservation strategies.

Sri Lanka Elephant Sanctuary Volunteer Program

The Sri Lanka Elephant Sanctuary Volunteer Program provides a safe haven for elephants rescued from unsuitable living conditions. Volunteers at the sanctuary are involved in the daily care of elephants, including feeding, bathing, and exercise routines, which are essential for their physical and mental health. Additionally, educational activities teach volunteers about elephant conservation, the impact of human activities on their natural habitats, and the importance of sustainable practices to ensure their survival.

Elephant Rescue Project

The Elephant Rescue Project focuses on the immediate and long-term needs of elephants that have been freed from captivity or are in distress. Volunteers play a direct role in the recovery and rehabilitation process, helping to manage enclosures, prepare specialized diets, and assist in medical treatments under the guidance of professional staff. This project not only helps improve the quality of life for individual elephants but also contributes to broader conservation efforts aimed at protecting these animals from the threats of poaching and habitat loss.

Volunteer to Protect Elephants  in Nepal

There are volunteer opportunities in Nepal that you can join to protect the Asian elephants in Nepal as well. Becoming a wildlife and community program in Nepal you can participate in the elephant care facility run by a local NGO in Sauraha, Chitwan Nepal.

If you are a wildlife enthusiast and elephant lover, signing up for the wildlife program in Nepal would be an option for you to take the step in protecting elephants.

Volunteer to Save Elephants in Kenya

In the wildlife program of Kenya, you will have close encounters with the wild animals, including African elephants. As a Kenya wildlife volunteer , you will support the initiatives being carried out in the country to protect these wild beasts.

Why We Should Protect Elephants

Each species plays a crucial role in interconnected ecosystems. Elephants facilitate the dispersal of thousands of seeds across vast distances via their droppings, but with their numbers dwindling, certain local plant species face extinction. This is evidenced by fourteen of the eighteen types of trees studied in the park failing to reproduce sufficiently. Given that forest elephants alone disperse the seeds of 335 tree species , their disappearance underscores the severity of the issue.

The gradual disappearance of these trees has severe repercussions for other species that rely on them, such as bats, birds, insects, and other mammals, including chimpanzees and bonobos. These animals contribute to seed dispersal and pollination, and their decline could exacerbate the reproduction challenges of other plants. The situation is further aggravated by the hunting of many of these animals, which significantly impedes seed dispersal processes, illustrating a domino effect within the ecosystem.

Poaching of elephants causes their extinction which significantly impacts ecosystems, water supply, livelihoods, and even the climate.

Types of Endangered Elephants

There were once around 350 species of elephants, but nearly all have become extinct over time. Until recently, only two species of elephants were recognized: African and Asian, with the latter having three subspecies. However, new studies have distinguished the African savannah and African forest elephants as separate species, leading to the current recognition of three surviving species, all of which are endangered: the Asian elephant, the African savannah elephant, and the African forest elephant.

Asian elephants

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) inhabits parts of Asia, including Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, China, and Indonesia, and is known for its gray-brown skin, elongated head, and smaller ears compared to African elephants. It has three subspecies, all classified as endangered by the IUCN.

African Elephants

The African savannah elephant (Loxodonta Africana), the largest land mammal, is now classified as endangered, while the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), the smallest of the three, is critically endangered according to the IUCN.

Conclusion

Hence, we discussed the role of elephants in our ecosystem. We explored the value of these giant beasts in biodiversity. We assessed the current situation and discovered how we can bring positive changes to protect the elephants.

We hope this information was helpful to you and will encourage you more to embark into your next conservation journey to protect wild animals.