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World Wildlife Day

Nature's untamed wonders are always captivating, from the majestic beasts of the savanna to the tiny creatures in your backyard.

Animals62
Marketing angleinferred

Drive foot traffic and engagement to zoos, botanical gardens, and nature-based attractions while positioning brands as conservation advocates through educational and experiential activations.

Relevance 62medium intent
  • Behind-the-scenes conservation stories from local wildlife facilities
  • Family-friendly wildlife discovery guides and photo challenges
  • Partner with eco-conscious brands to highlight sustainable product lines tied to species protection
  • User-generated content campaigns featuring local flora and fauna encounters

History

On March 3rd, 1973 the United Nations General Assembly took a stand to protect Endangered Species throughout the world.

Whether plant or animal, the importance of these species in every area of human life, from culinary to medical, could not be understated.

At this time hundreds of endangered species were being threatened every year, and extinction was at a staggeringly high rate. CITES was put into place (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) to ensure that the world did not continue to hemorrhage species that would never be seen from again.

On December 20th, 2013 another step was taken to help spread awareness of the fragility of endangered species in the world.

At its 68th session, the UN declared that each year World Wildlife Day would be dedicated to a new purpose and idea to help keep people abreast of the changing nature of our world, and the treasures we stand to lose from the animal and plant kingdom if we don’t take care.

Sometimes the day highlights an endangered animal or group of animals, while in other years, it has focused on a specific issue affecting the world of wildlife. Previous themes have included getting serious about wildlife crime and listening to young voices.

World Wildlife Day is implemented by the CITES Secretariat, working together with relevant UN organizations. The day might not have been around for long compared to some others, but it’s already made a big impact. If you are passionate about the Earth and everything on it, celebrating is a must.


How to celebrate

Visit Some Wildlife

The first thing that always comes to mind when we think about World Wildlife Day is heading out to our local zoo or botanical conservatory and reminding ourselves of the vast variety of life our world offers. If you have children, this can be one of the best ways to really introduce them to the wonders of the animal and plant kingdom. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, an outdoor excursion with a book of local flora and fauna (That’s plants and animals) can help make that connection come even closer to home.

Share with Others

You could also spend the day spreading the word about the importance of our wildlife. If you love our planet, what better way to celebrate everything on it than to encourage other people to care about it too? You might create an event, get people to sponsor you or create some education materials. Choose a cause that matters to you, whether it is a local one or an international wildlife issue that you want to highlight.

Enjoy Wildlife Day Activities

Another way you can get involved is finding out what this year’s theme is by stopping by the World Wildlife Day website and finding ways to get involved. The website has a map of events that you can search to discover things to do near you, or you could add your own event to encourage others to get involved too. You can find a range of useful materials on the site too, including posters, logos, a social media kit, and a special action card that you can use to take photos. You can find suggestions for World Wildlife Day hashtags to use on social media or any materials that you create for your event too. Some of their suggestions for getting involved include running a competition, engaging with influencers, celebrities and politicians, and showing your appreciation for those who help to conserve wildlife every day.

Advocate for Conservation

There are few things as important as making sure that the world’s biosphere remains healthy, every time we lose a plant or animal, we have no way of knowing if a cure for a disease or some new medical breakthrough was lost with them. World Wildlife Day is your opportunity to do your part in preserving our world.


FAQ
Who started World Wildlife Day?
World Wildlife Day was started by the United Nations General Assembly which is the main policy-making sector of the assembly. Over the years it has become the most important annual event dedicated to the preservation of wildlife.[1]
What is World Wildlife Day?
World Wildlife Day offers a simple opportunity to consider the animals and plants that humans share the planet with and to take action to help them in a variety of ways.[1]
How to get involved with World Wildlife Day?
Taking part in World Wildlife Day can be simple or more involved. The best ways to stay connected are to learn more, share the need with friends and family members, get to know threats to your local area, and host an awareness day at the office or at school.[1]
Why do we celebrate World Wildlife Day?
The purpose of the celebration of World Wildlife Day is to raise awareness for the plight of and care for wild species that may be at risk and need to be protected.[1]
When did World Wildlife Day start?
Although attention to wildlife has been active for more than 70 years, World Wildlife Day is a fairly modern celebration, officially started by the UN in 2013.[1]