We are celebrating Party for the Planet, a movement to take action for the planet. Each week leading up to Endangered Species Day (May 20), we will be sharing more about elephants’ vital role in the ecosystem, how The Elephant Sanctuary is doing its part, and how you can be a part of helping your community too. We challenge you to connect with your natural habitat and practice conservation in your neighborhood with interactive activities week to week!
Elephants are a keystone species, which means their role in the ecosystem is vital for various species to thrive. One way elephants are essential to their ecosystem is by eating from plants and trees at different canopy levels, thanks to their unique ability to reach high and low with their trunks. Eating higher branches and leaves that are usually out of reach for other plant-eaters creates pockets of sunlight that shine through the canopy, giving plants at the bottom plenty of sunshine to aid in photosynthesis!
How does The Elephant Sanctuary support the environment like an elephant? While we leave tree-downing to our resident elephants, we also like to utilize the sun by using solar panels. At The Sanctuary, we have a solar array at Asia Barn, the Elephant Health Care Center, and The Elephant Discovery Center. Each solar panel is tied into the local power grid, and through the solar arrays, we are able to offset 100% of the electricity used within Asia Barn and over 90% of the electricity used at The Elephant Discovery Center on an annual basis.
How can you be like an elephant? While solar panels may not be a feasible option for everyone, you can still conserve electricity whenever possible. Here are some ways you can use less electricity in your own home:
- Take shorter showers. Water heaters can use a lot of electricity; if you take shorter showers, the water heater will not have to work as hard and will use less electricity.
- Turn off the lights when you leave the room. What a quick and effortless way to reduce electricity usage!
- Unplug unused electronics. Printers, toasters, coffee makers, and tower fans are all electronics that can be unplugged when they are not in use.
- Manage AC/ Heater. If you turn it up (in the summer) or down (in the winter) just two degrees Fahrenheit, it can help reduce the electricity used in your home.
Check back next week for another tip on how to Party for the Planet with The Sanctuary!