World Elephant Day 2026
Protecting Africa’s Gentle Giants
Today, on World Elephant Day, Saving the Survivors celebrates one of the most extraordinary and iconic animals to walk our planet — the elephant.
Elephants have always held a very special place in the work of Saving the Survivors. Over the years, our veterinary teams have worked with countless elephants across Africa, responding when these magnificent animals have needed our help most.
With Dr. Johan Marais heading up our Veterinarians in the field, we have treated elephants that have fallen victim to poaching, snares and devastating traumatic injuries. Some of these cases have presented our teams with enormous veterinary challenges, requiring innovative techniques, specialist knowledge and, above all, a determination to give every animal the best possible chance of survival.
Protecting Elephants Before They Need Our Help
Our work with elephants is not limited to treating injured animals.
Increasingly, protecting Africa’s elephants requires proactive conservation — preventing conflict and injury before they occur.
Saving the Survivors works alongside conservation partners on projects including elephant collaring and monitoring, human-elephant conflict management and the protection of the landscapes and habitats upon which elephants depend.
Tracking and monitoring elephants can provide invaluable information about their movements and behaviour, allowing conservation teams to better understand where animals travel and helping identify areas where they may come into conflict with people.
As human populations and settlements expand into traditional wildlife areas, finding ways for people and elephants to coexist is becoming an increasingly important part of ensuring their long-term survival.
Remembering Craig
This World Elephant Day is also a poignant one for our team.
During the past year, we said goodbye to Craig, one of Africa’s magnificent Super Tuskers and a great friend of Saving the Survivors.
Craig was an extraordinary elephant whose enormous tusks and remarkable presence made him instantly recognisable. But to those fortunate enough to spend time around him, he represented something even greater — a living symbol of Africa’s remaining wild giants.
His loss was felt deeply by our team and by people around the world who had come to know and love him.
We will remember Craig not only for the magnificent elephant that he was, but also as a reminder of exactly what we are fighting to protect for future generations.
A Lifetime Working With Elephants
The photographs accompanying this World Elephant Day story provide just a glimpse into Saving the Survivors’ long relationship with these incredible animals.
Some document veterinary interventions and conservation operations undertaken by our teams, while others are very special moments captured through the lens of Dr. Johan Marais during his many years working amongst Africa’s wildlife.
Behind every photograph is a story — an animal treated, a herd protected, a collar fitted, a landscape monitored or simply an unforgettable encounter with one of the most intelligent and remarkable species on Earth.
Your Support Makes This Possible
Saving the Survivors is 100% funded by donations.
Our veterinary interventions, emergency call-outs, equipment, collaring operations and journeys into the field are only possible because people around the world choose to support our work.
Every donation, regardless of size, helps our veterinarians and conservation partners continue to be there when wildlife needs us.
This World Elephant Day, we ask you to stand alongside us.
For the elephants injured by poachers and snares.
For those coming into increasing conflict with people.
For the herds roaming Africa today.
And for the generations of elephants still to come.
With your support, Saving the Survivors will continue to fight for them, protect them and care for them.
They are the largest land mammals walking our planet.
They are intelligent, powerful, deeply social and remarkably gentle.
They are Africa’s gentle giants — and they are worth fighting for.
Help Us Protect Africa’s Wildlife
Saving the Survivors relies entirely on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation today and help our veterinary teams continue protecting elephants and other threatened wildlife across Africa.
MORE BUSH JOURNAL
World Elephant Day 2026
Protecting Africa’s Gentle Giants Today, on World Elephant Day, Saving the Survivors celebrates one of the most extraordinary and iconic animals to walk our planet — the elephant. Elephants have always held a very special place in the work of Saving the Survivors. Over the years, our veterinary teams have worked with countless elephants across … Continued
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Eight Years On:
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A Protector Made Possible by You Deep in the bushveld, where the threat of poaching is ever-present, a highly trained protector moves silently alongside the rangers. Focused, disciplined, and relentless in her pursuit — this is Hope. Many of you will remember that Hope, our anti-poaching K9, was made possible entirely through your generosity. From … Continued
