Greetings,

Today we celebrate the 53rd Earth Day! We honor the place that we all call home and remember that we must each take efforts to protect it. Part of taking care of Mother Earth is preserving the magnificent creatures with whom we share it. But what if one of those creatures disappeared forever? What if we left to future generations a world without elephants?

If elephants disappeared…

They could no longer serve as landscape architects, helping keep habitats and forests healthy with their foraging behavior and helping to spread and germinate seeds through their dung.

Multiple animal species who rely on elephants for survival would be hurt, or even die off–like the frogs and tadpoles in Uganda and Myanmar who live and breed in microhabitats created by elephant footprints.

Elephants could no longer be used as “umbrella species” to inspire support that benefits lesser know, less iconic species in need of help, like the pangolin.

We have lost species before. You have likely heard of the Dodo Bird but have never seen one. The West African Black Rhino was declared extinct in 2011. No one has spotted a Baiji White Dolphin in over 20 years. The last known Passenger Pigeon died in 1914, and the last Tasmanian Tiger died in 1936. These species were not lost because of the Ice Age or Earth-changing weather; they were lost due to human action.

It is up to us to make sure we create world where elephants can thrive for generations to come. This Earth Day, let’s remember it is our job to conserve what we love.

There are many ways to support elephants, including gifts of stock, directing your Donor Advised Funds, and leaving a legacy in your will. Giving in these ways may help with next year’s taxes while making a bigger impact protecting the elephants we love. We’re always here to help guide you through the process.