Asian and African elephants are almost on the brink of extinction due to illegal poaching, loss of natural habitat and mistreatment in captivity. If you care about saving these majestic animals, here’s how you can help!

DON’T BUY IVORY OR IVORY PRODUCTS: In 1989 an international ban was placed on the illegal ivory trade, but despite this, it’s at the highest level in 20 years.

Being an elephant-aware consumer sends the biggest message to illegal poachers that there is no market for what they sell. Shockingly, most ivory sold around the world comes from animals that have only been killed in recent years.

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO STOP ILLEGAL POACHING: With 96 elephants being killed a day in Africa alone, now is the time to take action.

Donate to charities like 96 Elephants, Save The Elephants, the African Conservation Foundation and the African Wildlife Trust, to protect elephants and their natural habitat.

BOYCOTT CIRCUSES OR ZOOS WHERE ELEPHANTS LIVE: One in three Asian elephants now live in captivity.

Animal rights charity PETA says zoos must phase out elephant exhibits and abandon breeding programs to provide elephants who are currently in captivity with a more humane existence. Zoos also rob elephants of their most basic needs, such as the option to walk long distances and form extended social relationships.

This leads many to die before they are 40, decades short of their expected lifespan of around 70 years old.

ADOPT AN ELEPHANT THROUGH THE WWF: With more elephants being poached than are being born, donations via animal adoptions give a huge boost to fund vital work around the world.

Receive regular updates on how you’re helping the charity protect elephant habitats, train and equip anti-poaching patrols, and work with local communities to reduce human-elephant conflict.

GET INVOLVED WITH ROOTS & SHOOTS: This program was created to encourage young people to develop an interest in conservation and pursue careers to help elephants and other wildlife. There are now thousands of members all over the world – and there’s no reason you can’t become one of them!

SIGN THE WORLD ELEPHANT DAY PLEDGE: Show your support for a world which protects elephants, wildlife and their natural habitat. In the past decade, elephant numbers have dropped by 62 per cent – and they could be mostly extinct by the end of the next decade if nothing is done to stop it.

TWEET: Spread the word about elephants. You can tweet #WorldElephantDay and #BeElephantEthical to promote safe, ethical elephant tourism.

Latest figures show there are less than 40,000 Asian elephants left in the world, putting them on the endangered list. There are also less than 400,000 African elephants left, making them a threatened species.

BE AWARE OF ELEPHANT HABITAT: There are lots of things you can do on a daily basis, which you may not even know about, which can help elephants.

Don’t buy coffee that isn’t fair trade or shade-grown, and avoid products which contain palm oil. These commercial crops are grown in plantations that have decimated elephant habitats.