World Wildlife Day

About World Wildlife Day

• It is celebrated to promote sustainable practices that can help conserve biodiversity and raise public awareness of the need to protect and care for animals.
• It aims to raise awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things on our planet and to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and animals through activism, campaigning and education.
• History
  • It was first proposed by Thailand to the UN General Assembly in 2013.
  • The idea was to set aside a day to promote awareness of wild animals and plants around the world.
  • The General Assembly adopted a resolution on 20 December 2013, designating March 3 as World Wildlife Day in 2014.
  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival, was signed on this day in 1973.
• Theme of WWD 2024: "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation," highlights the potential of technology to advance conservation efforts.
• This theme is particularly relevant in today's digital age, where technological advances can offer novel solutions to long-standing conservation challenges.
• Significance
  • It is an important global awareness event for the protection and conservation of animals.
  • It serves as a reminder of the inherent value of animals and the need to treat them with kindness, decency and respect.

Q1) What is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)?

It is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES was adopted in 1973 and entered into force in 1975.There are 184 member parties, and trade is regulated in more than 38,000 species.

Source: World Wildlife Day 2024: Date, theme, history, significance and all you need to know