Elephants as ecosystem engineers for World Elephant Day

Happy World Elephant Day! I found two videos for today that illustrate a point I make about elephants, that they are ecosystem engineers, foundation species that not only maintain an ecosystem, like keystone species such as sea otters, but can re-establish ecosystems. Watch World Elephant Day 2026 from American Humane Society.

Take elephants out of Africa, and the landscape itself begins to change. Their absence would be felt far beyond the herd, in the forests they help renew, the water sources they uncover and the habitats their movement creates for countless other species. Elephants are not simply part of Africa’s biodiversity; they are one of the forces that help sustain it. This World Elephant Day, help us protect these extraordinary animals and the living landscapes shaped by their presence.

India’s Elephants: Protecting a Legacy | World Elephant Day 2026 from India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change makes the same point.

India is home to more than 60% of the world’s Asian elephants—a distinction that comes with a deep responsibility.

From 33 Elephant Reserves and more than 150 identified elephant corridors to science-led monitoring and mitigation measures across 77 critical railway stretches, India continues to strengthen efforts for elephant conservation.

Technology, scientific research, frontline forest teams and local communities are all playing an important role in creating safer landscapes for elephants and people.

On World Elephant Day 2026, we celebrate India’s elephants and reaffirm our commitment to conserving the habitats and landscapes they call home.

That's a wrap for this story I tell my students on a biodiversity holiday. Stay tuned as I return to awards show coverage tomorrow.