August 12 is World Elephant Day, and we focus on these extraordinary creatures and commit to protecting them. African elephants, like those shown here, are the largest extant land animals, with male elephants 13 feet tall on their shoulders. Their unique tree trunks and large, fluttering ears make them one of the first animals that every child can recognize. Adults marvel at the intimate family bonds they create, and the way cattle unite to protect their members, feeling sad when a person dies. They form a strong social community over a life cycle of about 60 to 75 years.
Sadly, elephants have also attracted negative attention. About 100 large African elephants are killed every day by poachers whose ivory is stolen for the lucrative illegal ivory trade. In fact, according to the World Wildlife Fund, a recent comprehensive census of African elephants showed that between 2002 and 2011, the number of African elephants decreased by 62 percent and has lost 30 percent of its geographic range. The decline continues — and there are fears that elephants could go extinct by the end of the next decade. Wildlife biologist Dr. Jane Goodall has studied elephants and written about elephants: "I spent hours observing elephants," she says, "and started to understand what kind of emotional creatures they are." This is not just a species facing extinction, but a huge individual suffering.
The families of elephants photographed here live in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, home to more than 1,500 African elephants, and home to the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, which has been studying, observing and protecting African elephants for 50 years. On this World Elephant Day, let's all find ways to help these majestic beasts and ensure that they have a safe and happy future in the wild.