An opportunity to monitor the effectiveness of conservation programs and to learn more about these beautiful animals
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himSince 2012, the August 12th of each year we celebrate the World elephant day, an international event that aims to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding and protecting elephants around the world.
- elephants African and Asian ones are in fact considered respectively as "vulnerable" and "endangered" and are included in the lists of threatened wild species.
The main reasons that are putting the survival of the species at risk are always the same: the decrease in habitat, taken away from animals to make room for our expansion, and poaching.
Ethiopia has just seen one of the largest elephant massacres killed in a single day by poachers
La world elephant day it is therefore an opportunity to monitor the effectiveness of conservation programs and for learn more about these beautiful animals, which we should strive to protect.
Elephants are in danger of disappearing. The new UNEP census is alarming
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They are not afraid of mice
La belief that elephants are afraid of mice is a lot widespread and rooted. Although the origins of this belief are unknown, it seems to have accompanied us for over 600 years and, even today, the image of the elephant running away in front of a mouse is frequent in cartoons, books and films.
However, according to scientists, this is an urban legend and elephants are unlikely to fear mice. An elephant could at best be annoyed from a fast-moving animal, whether it's a mouse, a dog or a cat it makes no difference.
But they fear bees
In various areas of Africa, crops are often threatened by elephants which, due to the loss of habitat and the scarcity of resources available in nature, are approaching crops.
This is source of conflitto between wildlife and humans and farmers often kill elephants to protect their crops.
To protect the species and ensure a peaceful coexistence between pachyderms and farmers, however, one was found solution quite original and ethical.
Elephants fear bee stings, so these precious insects are used to dissuade them from plundering crops.
The method has been tested in East Africa and works: placing some hives along the borders of the land with active bee colonies discourages the elephants from approaching the crops and picking fruit from the trees.
They celebrate their dead
The elephants celebrate death of their fellow men through a series of ritual-like behaviors. It has often been noted how these large animals caress the deceased with their proboscis, cover them with branches and leaves or even carry them to the forest to bury them.
It is not clear if they create real cemeteries in the trees, but it is not uncommon to find the remains of multiple elephants in specific places.
The heartbreaking funeral of the elephant carrying her dead baby
Reference sources: Live Science / Plos One / IUCN - Asian elephant / IUCN - African elephant
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