Created on August 12^th 2012, with the aim of protecting all elephant species and support for the conservation of the largest terrestrial mammal on the planet, World Elephant Day was designed by Canadian director Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand, where the animal is a national symbol.

The largest terrestrial mammal on the planet, weighing up to seven tons, the elephant is highly sought after by poachers because of its ivory.

According to data released by the National Administration for Conservation Areas  (ANAC), since 2009, Mozambique has lost at least 10,000 elephants and in the Niassa Reserve alone, the largest protected area in the country, the total number of elephants has gone from 12,000 in 2011 to just 4 400 in 2014. It should be noted, however, that recent government and private actions in recent years have contributed to dramatically reduce this elephant loss. According to preliminary data from the National Elephant Census (2018), the country has a population of 10,800 individuals.

BIOFUND emphasizes that elephants are extremely important for ecosystems and since 2016 the institution has supported most of the Conservation Areas that host this mammal, namely the Maputo Special Reserve, the Chimanimani National Reserve and the Quirimbas National Parks, Gilé, Banhine, Mágòe, Limpopo and Zinave.

You too can contribute to increased knowledge about its importance and help search for sustainable solutions for the management and conservation of the elephant.

To learn some curiosities about the elephant, visit the BIOFUND and ANAC facebook pages.

Together for the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique!