As part of the 53rd Wildlife Week organised by the Karnataka Forest Department, Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) celebrated Elephant Day on Saturday.

The celebrations commenced with hundreds of people gathering at the Bannerghatta circle in the early hours of the day. Kids — young and the old and everyone for whom the elephant was more than just a mere animal, were present.

A small rally, led by K B Markandaiah, Executive Director, BBP, highlighted the event with information about the species being announced with the aim of educating the masses in the rally as well as onlookers.

On reaching  the park, participants were invited to watch a short documentary on elephants called ‘Haathi’ (elephant) followed by lunch for all those present.

Post lunch, a whole lot of fun activities were organised for the children which included quiz and other education-through-fun events.

Children also gathered around the elephant paddock to get first-hand information, from the mahouts and other prominent wildlife experts, about the gentle giants.

What everyone seemed to take back with them was an abundance of knowledge about elephants, a renewed urge to save the elephants in the wild and end captivity and captivity-related entertainment.