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Small actions

Small actions that help Asian elephants

An elephant is chest-deep in water. The elephant has short tusks and pink markings on its face and ear. It curls its trunk around floating pieces of hay and opens its mouth.

Wild Asian elephants live in some of the most densely human-populated regions of the world. They also require large areas of habitat and lots of food, which puts them in frequent and sometimes deadly conflict with people. Logging, development and agriculture to produce crops such as oil palms have drastically reduced elephant habitat throughout Asia. Poaching for ivory, meat and other products also takes a significant toll on elephant populations.

How you can help

  1. Use the Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping App

    A person pushes a cart down the aisle of a grocery store.

    Palm oil – used in foods, cosmetics and other products – is the world's most popular vegetable oil. The process of producing it destroys tropical habitats and significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Some companies are taking steps to reduce the palm oil's impact on the environment. Use the Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping App, produced by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, to check if the product you are about to purchase is made my a company working to switch to deforestation-free palm oil.

  2. Look for the FSC-certified label on wood and paper products

    A package of paper with the FSC logo. The logo is a combination of a checkmark and the outline of a tree.

    Whether you’re purchasing napkins, paper or a bed frame, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label to help ensure that your wood product is “friendly” to forests. Forests are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and they help to stabilize the earth’s climate. FSC standards help limit clear cuts, restrict the most hazardous chemicals and reduce erosion along rivers.

  3. Opt out of junk mail

    A pile of junk mail and coupons.

    Each American household receives more than 100 pounds of junk mail every year, costing forests millions of trees and destroying homes for wildlife. Get off multiple mailing lists at once by calling the Direct Marketing Association at 212-768-7277 and request to be placed on the suppression file, or send a note with a $3 check or money order to: Mail Preference Service C/O Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512

  4. Waste less food at home

    Carrots, eggs, peppers, leafy greens and a loaf of french bred in a cloth grocery bag.

    Forty percent of the food we buy never gets eaten, and wasted food hurts wildlife. Agriculture and food transportation can damage habitats worldwide, from the Arctic to the plains. Storing food properly, considering portions and shopping carefully can help prevent the wasting of food and prevent the burning of fossil fuels to transport it. These simple actions help protect wildlife and the habitats we all depend on.

  5. Donate to the Oregon Zoo Foundation

    Adult female checkerspot butterfly in the Butterfly Lab.

    Donate now and make a world of difference for wildlife!

More Actions

Small actions
Bull Asian elephants Samudra (left) and Samson in the pool at Elephant Lands.

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