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Monday, December 31, 2012

What's Your Resolution?




This New Year, my resolution is to increase awareness of the plight of elephants around the world.

What's yours?



Go make a difference!

(And happy new year!)

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Oh, Baby!



Did you know that a cow (female elephant) is pregnant for 22 months, longer than any other land animal?

When born, the calf weighs over 220 pounds, and will suck it's trunk, just like we humans would suck our thumbs when young.




(Yes, that is a picture of me with my mom at the top when I was a baby!  Summer 2000 in Vermont!)  


Go make a difference!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Did You Know?

A woolly mammoth

A cave painting from Les Combarelles, France

A 12,000 year old spear thrower


Did you know that Asian elephants are more closely related to the extinct woolly mammoth than the African elephant? 

The woolly mammoth became extinct because of climate change and hunting by humans scientists believe.  

Sound familiar? 

Do we want what happened to the woolly mammoth to happen to our elephants?


Go make a difference!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Did You Know?



Did you know that elephants only sleep between 2 to 3 hours a day?  This is because they need to spend more time eating, due to their huge size. They can eat up to 330 pounds of vegetation a day!

This might put your holiday indulging in perspective!


Go make a difference!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Picture Of The Day

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.”
~Rumi


This amazing picture, taken by George Steinmetz of National Geographic, was captured in Kenya's Amboseli National Park.  




Looking back on 2012, where have you been?

Looking ahead to 2013, where are you headed?



Go make a difference!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Elephant Habitats


While you're in your cozy home this holiday season, it's important to remember that wild animals rely on us to protect their habitats, which are their homes.  


Did you know that elephant habitats look quite different?  Here are four examples:


Asian elephant


African bush elephant


African forest elephant


Indian elephant



Go make a difference!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

"For A Living Planet"


This Christmas, my Aunt adopted an African elephant in my name!  Also, knowing how much I love elephants, my friends Nicole and Coco got me elephant pajamas!

When my Aunt donated to WWF, the money went to safeguarding land where elephants live.  WWF is the leading organization in wildlife conservation and endangered species around the world. It is an international, non-governmental organization, and they work in more than 100 countries.  

Thank you to my Aunt Allie and Merry Christmas to all!





Go make a difference!

Monday, December 24, 2012

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear




It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the Earth, to touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the Earth, good will to all!"


Go make a difference!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

What's Your Wish?



"I would change the world so no one would need to steal stuff from stores.  I would change the world so that there are no more bullies in school and no one to kill Elephants for their tusks."

~My great friend, Emme 
2nd grade


This Christmas, what are you wishing for?


Go make a difference!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Picture of the Day

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. "

~Thomas Jefferson 




This amazing photograph was taken by Chris Johns in Zambezi, Africa.



Go make a difference!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Picture Of The Day

"Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing." 

~John Donne




This spectacular picture was taken during a dust bath in Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, by Mia Collis in National Geographic.


Go make a difference!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Elephant Trunk Anatomy 101





An elephant's trunk serves many purposes.  Elephants use their trunks to unlock things, paint, pick things up, eat, drink, defend themselves, bathe, spray others, and much more!

Wouldn't we want to protect and save the earth's only animal with this magnificent long trunk?

Go make a difference! 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. ~WB Yeats




DId you know that elephants have five toes?  However, not every toe has a nail.  An African forest elephant and the Asian elephant both have five toenails on their front feet and four on their back feet.  African bush elephants have four or five toenails on their front feet and three on their back feet.

Did you know that an X-ray of an elephant's foot shows that it's bones are standing on tip-toe?  Their feet are flat because they have a large pad of gristle under each heel as a shock absorber, which helps them walk quietly. 

Did you know that elephants sleep standing up?  Elephants sleep while standing, so their legs are much straighter and support their weight better.  Also, walking is one of an elephant's daily activities, so their feet have adapted to make sure they can do that easily.  Most elephants in zoos have foot problems because they don't have an opportunity to walk a lot.  


Go make a difference!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

One Shot Does A Lot


In the wrong hands, guns can do major harm in the most violent ways. Innocent children and defenseless endangered animals should be protected from harm, including gun violence.  Are we doing enough to protect them?




In the New York Times, Jeffrey Gettleman reported on September 3, 2012 that 11 Garamba National Park Rangers have been killed since 2008 and some of the rangers’ children have even been kidnapped over the issue of ivory.   Poachers are armed with "PKMs, AKs, G-3s, and FNs."






Go make a difference!