The Vizag zoo park on Friday held organized an awareness programme to mark the World Elephant Day.

Teachers, Paryavarana Margadarsi Vaisakhi, Visakha zoo lovers and Sri Prakash School students participated in the event.

“The goal of World Eleph-ant Day is to create awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better care and management of captive and wild elephants. African elephants are listed as vulnerable and Asian elephants as endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

The Indian elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by the IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations.

“Asian elephants are threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation,” said Vizag zoo curator Mr B. Vijaya Kumar.

BY M. DIVYA SRI