Puri, Aug. 12 -- Padma Shri awardee and internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik marked World Elephant Day by creating a 12-foot-long sand sculpture of an elephant.

Pattnaik highlighted the importance of protecting the animal and its habitat with the slogan "Save our habitat" inscribed on the sculpture.

In a video, Sudarsan Pattnaik said, "On World Elephant Day, a 12-foot-long elephant sculpture was made, showing a forest being cut down. The elephant's mouth touched a tree, symbolising the need to protect elephants and their homes."

India is home to nearly 60 per cent of the world's wild elephant population, with 33 elephant reserves and 150 identified elephant corridors, as per the 2023 Report on Elephant Corridors in I...