This Father’s Day we celebrate the strength, wisdom, and legacy of the fathers of the Asian forests, and the forests and Savannah of Africa.

Just as our fathers help build our homes, bull (male) elephants play a vital role in their ecosystems, shaping the landscape for countless other species. They help maintain ecosystem balance by dispersing seeds, creating water holes, and supporting biodiversity.

While all adult male elephants have tusks, there are still places in Africa and Asia where some males have awe-inspiring ivory of over 100 pounds per tusk reaching almost to the ground. These extraordinary male elephants are on the brink of extinction, threatened by poaching and habitat loss.

The impressive ivory on bull elephants makes them a target for poachers in any landscape. This threatens genetic diversity. The more bulls who are killed, the less male genes are available to perpetuate the already endangered species. This is particularly concerning for critically endangered populations like the African forest elephant and Sumatran elephant in Indonesia.

Through supporting anti-poaching and security efforts in multiple landscapes IEF is helping to protect these incredible pachyderm patriarchs. We honor the elephant fathers who remind us of the strong, incredible dads in our own lives. Together we are ensuring that future generations can marvel at these living legends.

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