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When is World Wildlife Day?

March 3rd is World Wildlife Day.

What is World Wildlife Day?

You wouldn’t want to meet a South China tiger in the jungle, but imagine a world without these beautiful cats. They only live in captivity now. We haven’t seen one in the wild since the ‘70s. World Wildlife Day raises awareness about the world’s animals and plants that are threatened with extinction.

Many factors can jeopardize the existence of a species, but humans usually pose the biggest dangers. For example, the big cats face shrinking habitats and dwindling prey, both of which are human-led threats, combined with poaching and conflict with people.

Wildlife preservation issues are complex. World Wildlife Day is the perfect reminder that we must apply our creativity to these issues or we will lose the beautiful variety of the world’s creatures.

Facts about World Wildlife Day!

  • In Iran, there are an estimated 100 Asiatic cheetahs, which are native to the area.
  • There are only about 100 South China tigers living in captivity—down from 4,000 in the ‘50s—because the Communist government of China proclaimed this species to be “an enemy of the people” in 1959.
  • Humans introduced the mongoose to Jamaica back in the 1870s to control snakes, but the mongooses have nearly wiped out the Jamaican Iguana.

How to celebrate World Wildlife Day:

  • Look through lists of critically threatened species, like the most endangered big cats or sea life or reptiles.
  • Choose some endangered animals you find interesting, and learn about the threats they face. Watch videos, read articles, and then donate to organizations that are trying to support those species. Discover whether any species near you might be endangered.
  • Organize a discussion in your community about the importance of biodiversity in the world and the issues surrounding endangered creatures.
  • Go to the zoo! Take your kids, and teach them a healthy love for nature and the creatures of the world.

What’s the hashtag for World Wildlife Day?

Show your support for vulnerable species by using #WorldWildlifeDay on social media.