Daily Animal Facts

On August 17, 2014, Botswana completed a groundbreaking aerial survey, revealing the country held the largest elephant population in Africa. The census counted approximately 130,000 elephants, a testament to Botswana's commitment to conservation. This successful survey marked a high point for elephant protection, ensuring these majestic creatures continue to thrive. The average weight of an adult male African Elephant is 6,000 kg. The survey confirms that together, Botswana's elephant population represents 780 million kg of elephant!

On August 16, 1996, the first of several Canadian gray wolves were released into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho as part of a federal reintroduction program. These wolves, captured in British Columbia and Alberta, represented a pivotal step in restoring the species to the area. One notable female, designated Wolf #9, quickly adapted to her new surroundings and, by the spring of 1997, successfully produced a litter of at least 6 pups. This event confirmed the viability of the reintroduction program and marked a positive turning point for wolf conservation in the region. Since she was likely 2 years old at release in 1996, by spring 1997, she was about 2.5 years of age or around 912 days old!

On August 15, 2023, Shu Qing, a female giant panda at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, celebrated her 24th birthday! This is a significant achievement as the average lifespan for pandas in captivity is around 30 years. She enjoyed a birthday cake made of ice, fruit and bamboo. Shu Qing has given birth to 5 cubs in her lifetime. This means Shu Qing has lived a remarkable 8,766 days!

On August 14, 1967, Dian Fossey, renowned primatologist, officially named a young mountain gorilla 'Digit' at her Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda. Digit, part of Group 4, was one of the first gorillas Fossey truly connected with. This naming, and the subsequent deep understanding Fossey gained of Digit's family and the species as a whole, helped catalyze global conservation efforts for mountain gorillas, whose numbers were critically low. At the time of his naming, Digit was approximately 2 years and 8 months old, representing approximately 975 days of playful exploration and gorilla growth.

On August 13, 2022, conservationists in Kenya celebrated the 36th birthday of Ndume, one of the last remaining great tuskers. Ndume, known for his impressive tusks that nearly reached the ground, was a vital part of the Amboseli ecosystem. At 36 years old, Ndume had lived approximately 13,140 days, contributing significantly to elephant social structures and genetic diversity before passing away later that year. His longevity and grandeur symbolized the importance of elephant conservation efforts.

On August 12th, 2014, the Tsavo Trust in Kenya celebrated a significant milestone during one of its routine aerial censuses of the Tsavo Conservation Area's elephant population. The census revealed a total of approximately 12,866 elephants. More importantly, the data showed a healthy calf-to-adult ratio, suggesting a positive trend in elephant population growth after years of poaching threats. The census also contributed valuable insight on elephant distribution and behaviour leading to improved anti-poaching strategies.

On August 11, 2023, the National Zoo in Washington D.C. celebrated Mei Xiang's 25th birthday with a special 'pawsome' ice cake. This milestone marked not only her last birthday in the US, but also her incredible contribution to giant panda conservation. Over her time in the US, Mei Xiang successfully birthed four surviving cubs: Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Xiao Qi Ji and Bei Bei. Her longest pregnancy was 153 days, demonstrating her remarkable reproductive success.