Lots of ways to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day

Sunday, Sept. 22, is a big day.

No, really, it’s a BIG day,

So big, in fact — like seven or so tons big — it’s hard to imagine how anyone could forget.

Here’s another hint: If they knew it was their day, they sure wouldn’t forget because they never forget.link

And with ears like theirs, they’re bound to hear the news.

Yep, you guessed it, it’s Elephant Appreciation Day, and there’s a lot to appreciate.

· Highest estimates place the world’s wild elephant population at 740,000, less than 40,000 of which are in Asia and the remainder in Africa.

· An average elephant calf weighs more than 200 pounds at birth.

· Elephants weigh between 7,000 and 13,000 pounds (about three cars, or eight large adult cows).

· An elephant’s brain weighs more than 10 pounds.

· It takes up to 400 pounds of vegetation each day to feed an elephant and about 50 gallons of water.

· Unlike humans and most mammals, which only grow two sets of teeth, elephants grow six sets of teeth throughout their lives.

· Elephants have been trained by mankind for thousands of years going back to at least 1100 BC (think Biblical and before: Ark of the Covenant, Troy, Shang Dynasty…).

It’s no wonder people have a love for elephants. Not only are they fascinating and exotic, they also have a lot in common with humans, from long pregnancies (up to two years), tight knit societies and strong family bonds, lifespans of 70 plus years, high intelligence that includes self-awareness and cognition and behaviors that seem to demonstrate emotion, compassion and affection that humans can relate to.

A tradition of 17 years, Elephant Appreciation Day was created by Florida man Wayne Hepburn, who developed a fascination for the huge mammals after his daughter gave him an elephant paperweight, and sparked a 20-some year, multi-thousand piece collection of elephant objects.

Aside from their wide appeal (backsides notwithstanding), the plight of the wild elephant is a long standing cause that has captured the hearts of many and spurred world-wide efforts to preserve their habitats and protect them from harm.

Just this week, citing the death of 96 African elephants a day at the hands of poachers, The White House announced plans to destroy six million tons of seized ivory, joining a trend among nations invested in stopping the illegal trade.

There are a lot of ways to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day.

You can:

·Eat your meals one bite at a time.

· Wave at or even have a conversation about the big guy in the room.

· Work for peanuts.

· Go on a search for the pink variety (responsibly and legally, of course).

· Play a couple games of Memory with the kids.

· Squeal at a mouse.

· Tickle the ivories (faux, naturally).

· Say a word of thanks that your garden woes come rabbit-sized (There are people gardening in Africa after all).

· Make a one-day exception and let the kids blow milk bubbles through their noses.

· Host a “White Elephant Sale” and pawn those unused possessions off on someone else.

· Take the family on a stampede through a local park or ice cream aisle of preference.

Elephants have done a lot for people, not the least of which was making it OK to have big ears and teaching generations of kids that really big things can fly with a little confidence and faith.

As such, it only seems fair that they should have at least one day they can call their own — who knows, maybe we can swing even more than that one of these days.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected] or on the web at: http://www.insearchofponies.blogspot.com