African elephants, Amboseli National Park, Kenya
African elephants, Amboseli National Park, Kenya (© Ruzdi Ekenheim/Getty Images)
Herd you loud and clear
Get ready to celebrate elephants, the largest living land animals. There are three elephant species alive today: African bush, African forest and Asian. World Elephant Day, observed on August 12, is dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent challenges that these gentle giants face, like the ivory trade and habitat loss. This habitat loss brings them into closer contact with humans, which can lead to serious problems for both elephants and humans.
© Ruzdi Ekenheim/Getty Images