National Elephant Appreciation Day - A great time to give these majestic and beautiful creatures the respect they deserve.

National Elephant Appreciation Day 2024 – September 22, 2024

National Elephant Appreciation Day 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 that 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.

National Elephant Appreciation Day timeline

​279 BC
Elephants helped win a battle

When Pyrrhus invaded southern Italy, he used elephants to help him win a very bloody battle. ​

​1514
An elephant fit for a Pope

​Portugese king Manuel I sent Pope Leo X an elephant as an elaborate gift ​.

​1882
P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo the elephant​

The London Zoological Society sold Jumbo the Elephant to circus developer P.T. Barnum for £2,000 — igniting a major controversy.

​1996
National Elephant Appreciation Day began​

Publisher Wayne Hepburn started it all after an elephant paperweight gift sparked his interest.

How to Observe National Elephant Appreciation Day

  1. Visit elephants in the zoo

    If you're lucky, you might get to watch the elephants during feeding time or have the opportunity to ask about what life is like for zoo elephants.

  2. Do elephant arts and crafts

    Pop over to your nearest craft store, and you'll be well on your way to creating adorable masks, handprint art, and even cute T-shirts.

  3. Read about elephants

    Make it a point to grab a book that will help you brush up on your elephant trivia.

4 More Reasons To Save The Elephants

  1. ​Spilled something? Call an elephant to help you pick it up

    There's so much dexterity in an elephant's trunk —it can pick up the tiniest of particles.

  2. Elephant babies show their independence

    Baby elephants, blind shortly after birth, can nonetheless stand up and function quite well.

  3. Old man elephant

    Elephants have life expectancies of 50 to 70 years.

  4. The mice myth

    They're not afraid of mice; some African communities actually use elephants to​ help keep field mice out of crops.

Why National Elephant Appreciation Day is Important

  1. They're endangered

    Hunting has severely reduced the number of elephants left in the world. Thankfully, organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Elephant Foundation are working hard to protect African and Asian elephants.

  2. They're emotional

    Pay attention to an elephant for a little while, and it'll be easy to feel connected. Elephants are able to display fear, joy, excitement, and even grief. They're also very social, meaning they're more like humans than you may have realized.

  3. Elephants respect their elders

    Elephant "respect" comes through age and wisdom — not aggression. Many elephants follow around the oldest female because she knows where to find food and shelter.

National Elephant Appreciation Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 September 22 Friday
2024 September 22 Sunday
2025 September 22 Monday
2026 September 22 Tuesday
2027 September 22 Wednesday