World Wildlife Day is commemorated annually on March 3rd to honor the multitude of stunning diverse wild species of animals and plants and to raise awareness of the numerous advantages that humans experience from their existence.
In accordance with resolution UN 68/205, which designated March 3rd as the International Day of adoption of the Convention on International Trade on Species of Endangered Fauna and Flora (CITES) on the Planet, the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which convened on December 20, 2013, decided to declare March 3rd as World Wildlife Day, as proposed by Thailand.
Maintaining environmental balance, stability of the climate, and biodiversity depends on wildlife in great part. Many species are threatened, meanwhile, by habitat degradation, climate change, poaching, and pollution. The IUCN Red List estimates that more than 42,101 species run the danger of extinction.
Theme of World Wildlife Day 2025
This year, the theme of World Wildlife Day 2025 is Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.
From the coral reefs to the alpine steppes, wild plants and animals are essential to the complex web of life on Earth. The vital services they provide support human livelihoods, maintain ecosystems, control natural processes, and promote biodiversity, all of which help us reach our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 60,000 tree species, 80% of amphibian species, and 75% of bird species are found in forests alone, which also provide natural capital—such as food, medicine, and income—to more than 1.6 billion people.
There are over 1 million species at risk of going extinct, and with the planet facing some serious challenges, finding new ways to fund wildlife conservation is super important right now. Over half of the world’s GDP relies on nature, so losing biodiversity is a big deal for financial stability. Like, fisheries bring in more than 10 percent of GDP in some places, but more than a third of marine fish stocks are overfished. This causes job loss, messed-up economies, and illegal fishing practices.
Key Challenges of Wildlife Conservation
Habitat loss happens when deforestation and urban sprawl mess with natural ecosystems.
Poaching and illegal trade are a big deal – the black market for animal products is pushing species like elephants, tigers, and rhinos closer to extinction.
Climate change is messing with wildlife habitats because of rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns.
Pollution – Plastic waste, water contamination, and air pollution are putting marine and land life at risk.
Logo of World Wildlife Day 2025
Wildlife Day is a chance to honor the unique roles that wild plants and animals play in our ecosystem. Wildlife is an essential component of the world’s biological diversity. However, Wildlife Day serves as a reminder that we must intensify our efforts to combat wildlife crime and the human degradation of biodiversity, which has growing cultural, social, and economic repercussions. A forested area the size of South Africa has vanished from the planet in the past 25 years.
Swikriti
