african  elephant  awareness  program

The University of Alabama has the distinction of being the only major university with an elephant for a mascot. This also places us in the position of being the only university that may very soon have an extinct animal for a mascot. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it is possible the African elephant  -- one of our most important and loved University symbols – could be extinct in much of Africa in our lifetime. 

The illegal global ivory trade and loss of habitat are the main threats to the survival of the African elephant. Any program to support conservation should address both threats, but in such a way that the needs of people who share the ecosystem with the elephant are acknowledged and respected. In this regard, a mascot conservation program is a way to address social justice as well as environmental threats. 

The University has the opportunity to take a leading role in saving the African elephant by channeling our considerable intellectual and social capital into a mascot conservation program. Such a program, already proven successful at other SEC schools with tiger mascots, would not only help the elephant, it would help The University of Alabama. How? 

• Open new avenues for teaching, research and service.
  
• Raise the profile of the University as an innovative participant in global environmental issues.
  
• Strengthen the bond that UA students, employees, alumni and supporters share by rallying support for a central University symbol.
  
• Preserve our mascot for generations to come. 
  

One of our most important and loved University symbols could be extinct in our lifetime

The University of Alabama has the distinction of being the only major university with an elephant for a mascot

The university has the opportunity to help save the African elephant by creating a mascot conservation program