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World Wildlife Day 2023- History, Events, Facts & Celebration

world wildlife day 2023

World Wildlife Day 2023 is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and diverse animals and plants that call our planet home. It is a day to honour and show appreciation for the wild animals and plants that coexist on our planet. Moreover, on this day we should take time to think about what vital role they play in our lives and how essential it is to safeguard them in every possible way. 

However, many need to understand the significance of World Wildlife Day and what importance it holds for everyone. In this article, you will learn about What is World Wildlife Day? How to celebrate it, and how you can get involved!

Our world and how we choose to live depend critically on the survival of its wildlife & biodiversity. It supplies us with food, as well as clean water and air, medication, and a lot of other resources.

Plants and animals contribute to the maintenance of the ecological balance of our ecosystem. Unfortunately, the number of wild animals on every continent is decreasing for various reasons, such as the destruction of their habitats, poaching, pollution, the impact of climate change, and animal exploitation.

It’s an estimation that over one million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction. This is devastating for wildlife and humans who rely on healthy ecosystems for our own survival.

History of World Wildlife Day 

The history of World Wildlife Day can be traced back to March 3rd, 1973, when the United Nations General Assembly held the first Conference to protect endangered species in the world. It came into force on July 1st, 1975. The event was conducted to establish the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to protect animal species from extinction. World Wildlife Day will be organized by the CITES secretariat.

Since then, World Wildlife Day has grown into a global event. Every year, people all over the world take part in different activities and events to show their support for wildlife conservation. The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness about the critical threats that wildlife is currently facing and to rally support for effective conservation efforts. You can also check the official website for World Wildlife Day www.wildlifeday.org

Several issues include habitat loss, climate change, illegal wildlife trade, and conflict between humans and wildlife. The main goal of World Wildlife Day is to highlight the need for action to protect and conserve our planet’s many different species of Flora and Fauna.

On December 20th, 2013, during its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution that World Wildlife Day would be held on March 3rd every year. One of the most important reasons is spreading awareness about the conservation efforts for protecting wildlife worldwide.

Each year a new theme is decided, focusing on the specific purpose of protecting endangered species. Every theme is different and unique, allowing you to protect wildlife and talk about other critical issues affecting wildlife. 

Importance of World Wildlife Day 2023

Wildlife is an Inspiration

Wildlife is also an important part of our cultural heritage. It has inspired artists, writers, and musicians throughout history and continues to do so today.

Research shows that a connection with nature & wildlife has a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Wildlife also provides invaluable human services, such as pollination, soil enrichment, and natural pest control.

Helps in Controlling Animal Exploitation

World Wildlife Day also raises awareness about the illegal wildlife trade, a major threat to many endangered species. Focusing on this issue will help stop the demand for illegal wildlife products and encourage sustainable sourcing.

Raising Awareness 

These diverse creatures play an important role in sustaining life on Earth. Humans have caused great harm to biodiversity through deforestation, pollution, hunting of wild animals, and overfishing. World Wildlife Day allows us to gain a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation issues.

Survival of All Living Creatures

World Wildlife Day reminds us of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and how we depend on each other for survival. The human species has the power to shape our planet’s future and the responsibility of preserving natural ecosystems and protecting endangered species.

We must recognize that any damage done to one species, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could also have long-lasting impacts on other species. We must realize the interdependence we share with all living things and make a concerted effort towards preserving the Earth’s resources so that generations after us can continue enjoying its many benefits.

Every Living Creature Matters

The concept of interdependence is not new for survival, but modern living has numbed us to its importance in our lives. We have come to believe that we are independent and isolated from other life on the planet. But in fact, each thread of life contributes enormously to the fabric of our existence. 

Below is the List of World Wildlife Day Themes

World Wildlife Day 2015

In 2015 World Wildlife Day theme was “It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime.” This is an important issue we must address as a global community. Illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar industry that risks our wildlife.

We must be more proactive in tackling this problem and ensuring our wildlife is protected. This means working together to strengthen laws and enforcement and increasing public awareness of animal rights. In addition, we must support the efforts of our brave rangers working every day to protect wild species on the front lines.

World Wildlife Day 2016

The theme for World Wildlife Day was “The Future of Wildlife is in our hands,” with a sub-theme, “The Future of Elephants.” Elephants are one of the most majestic creatures on Earth, but sadly they are endangered.

People across the globe came together to celebrate elephants and raise awareness about the challenges they face from poachers. Everywhere from Africa to Asia, people held marches, rallies, and educational events to highlight the importance of elephant conservation.

World Wildlife Day 2017

In 2017 WWD declared the theme named “Listen to Young Voices.” It was dedicated to raising awareness amongst young people around the world who are working to protect wildlife. The importance of engaging young people in conservation efforts. Young people have a unique perspective on the natural world and can be powerful agents of change in safeguarding wildlife.

World Wildlife Day 2018

The theme for WWD 2018 event was “Big Cats: Predators Under Threat.” It was decided to protect big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars. These magnificent creatures face several threats, including habitat loss, illegal hunting, and trafficking.

World Wildlife Day 2019

The theme for WWD 2019 was “Life below water: for people and planet.” It mainly focused on the importance of sustainable development and taking action to protect the world’s oceans, seas, and marine life.

World Wildlife Day 2020

The theme for World Wildlife Day 2020 was “Sustaining all life on Earth.” The theme focuses on protecting and conserving all wild animals and plants.

World Wildlife Day 2021

World Wildlife Day 2021 theme was “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and the Planet.” Forests are essential to life on Earth. It focused on the importance of sustainably managing forests to protect people and wildlife.

World Wildlife Day 2022

The theme for World Wildlife Day 2022 was “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration” it was chosen to bring attention to the vital role that wildlife plays in ecosystems and the urgent need for concerted efforts to protect and conserve species that are essential for the health of our planet.

World Wildlife Day 2023 Theme

World Wildlife Day 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of (CITES). The theme for World Wildlife Day 2023 is “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation.” This theme focuses on the importance of working together to protect our planet’s wildlife & biodiversity.

Wildlife is an important part of our world. It gives us food and resources, helps keep our climate stable, and provides us with interdependence for our survival.

Human activity is putting increasing pressure on wildlife populations around the globe. Hunting, habitat loss, and pollution are just some threats wildlife faces.

Partnerships help in educating about best practices for conservation and help in raising awareness about the importance of protecting our wildlife heritage. To achieve this, we need to work together to protect wildlife.

Everyone must create effective partnerships between governments, businesses, NGOs, and other communities to save wildlife. We must join hands to support biodiversity and also educate about animal welfare to protect the stunning biodiversity of our planet, we must work together.

World Wildlife Day 2023

 How to Celebrate World Wildlife Day?

Show Your Skills

You can participate in the United Nations world wildlife day youth art contest, which is focused on endangered species. The art contest focuses on species whose protection and conservation have been made possible by people working together for wildlife conservation. It is a great opportunity for a young artist to show their talent by depicting the numerous species benefitting from World Wildlife Day.

Spend Time with Nature

Go for a hike, walk through a park or sit in your backyard and focus on all the sounds and sights of the natural world around you. As human civilization continues to grow larger, it’s important to appreciate and protect the open spaces where wildlife can live and thrive. You can think about giving back to nature by participating in wildlife conservation efforts.

Support Organizations that Protect Wildlife and their Habitats

This could include donating, signing up for emails, or attending events. You can donate money or time or spread the word about their work. By supporting these groups, you can help ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the wonders of biodiversity too.

Tell Your Friends and Family

Educate everyone about the significance of World Wildlife Day and why it’s important to care for our planet’s wildlife. Consider sharing news and initiatives for wildlife conservation & other informative articles.

Reduce Your Impact on Wildlife

Another way to celebrate World Wildlife Day is to take steps to reduce your impact on wildlife populations. This might include reducing your consumption of animal products, choosing eco-friendly products, or avoiding products made from animals.

Teach Others about Wildlife Issues

One of the best ways to celebrate World Wildlife Day is to educate others about issues impacting wildlife populations worldwide. You can host a presentation and start a discussion group.

Following are the Events for World Wildlife Day 2023

  1. On World Wildlife Day 2023, the SDG Knowledge Hub is organizing a series of guest articles themed on the 50th anniversary of CITES which will be published as a part of celebrating the anniversary of CITES.
  2. The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is taking the nature initiative of Biosphere’s Most Wanted. It gives community members and individuals the opportunity to record wildlife using the iNaturalist app.Individuals can use their mobile phones to photograph or record the targeted species such as swift, adder, red squirrel, nursehound shark, wych elm, and grayling butterfly in the Biosphere’s Most Wanted initiative.

    In order to locate these animal species locations within the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.

    This project will be launched in Glentrool Hive on World Wildlife Day on March 3, 2023, from 10:30 to 12:30, focusing on targeted species by simply recording them through the INaturalist app.

    A little effort from the community can help in providing scientific research. Registration for Biosphere’s Most Wanted Tickets is free through Eventbrite.

world wildlife day 2023

Facts About World Wildlife Day 2023

  1. World Wildlife Day is now celebrated in over 183 countries around the world.
  2. In 2022 Jackson Wild summit and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized International Film Showcase to celebrate World Wildlife Day. It was meant to show films investigating the risks to wildlife and biodiversity.
  3. More than 36,000 species of wild animals and plants are benefited from the conservation efforts of (CITES) around the world.
  4. World Wildlife Day helps raise awareness about more than 8,400 species that are considered critically endangered.

Conclusion

World Wildlife Day 2023 is an important day that allows us to reflect on the beauty, diversity, and importance of wild animals & biodiversity worldwide. We all have an important role in protecting and preserving our planet’s natural beauty.

It reminds us all to celebrate and protect these animals, but it also serves as a reminder of our responsibility to manage and conserve them for future generations. Let’s take this World Wildlife Day 2023 as an opportunity to celebrate the wonders of our natural world and take important steps towards preserving ecosystems worldwide.

 

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