Elephants in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

© Johan Swanepoel/Alamy

Elephants in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

Here in South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park, the once nearly decimated African elephant population is healthy and safe, at least within the park’s boundaries. But not all elephants live in protected areas and poaching continues to be a major contribution to the decline in wild elephant numbers across the continent. World Elephant Day is an effort to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of these incredible animals.