Sunday is National Wildlife Day—a day set aside to raise awareness of the plight of endangered animals and the importance of conservation and education. To celebrate, today’s post looks at the history of National Wildlife Day and the impact of human activity on the natural world. Plus, you’ll learn four ways to celebrate the day and make a difference.
About National Wildlife Day
Animal behaviourist Colleen Paige founded National Wildlife Day. It’s celebrated on February 22 and September 4 each year in memory of Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter. September 4 is the date of Steve’s untimely death after being speared by a stingray, and February 22 is his birthday.
Since Steve’s death, his wife Terri and his children Bindi and Robert have continued his awareness and conservation work at the Australia Zoo. The Crocodile Hunter lives on.
The impact of human activity on the animal kingdom
Sadly, the wildlife kingdom is another example of human activity destroying our planet and its resources. As the world’s population has exploded, we’re consuming natural resources at an alarming rate.
We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.
Steve Irwin
WorldAtlas.com reports four main reasons for species endangerment:
- Human land use competes for space with wildlife. Deforestation and urban sprawl are forcing animals out of their natural habitats, making it difficult for them to survive.
- Air, water and land pollution affect animal health, not to mention human health.
- Increased human mobility introduces invasive, non-native plant species into new habitats.
- Unhealthy and unbalanced ecosystems bring new diseases that threaten the survival of many species.
Between poaching, overfishing and habitat destruction, the list of endangered species continues to grow. Let’s look at some beloved species that are at risk.
Which species are endangered?
The World Wildlife Fund categorizes all species into one of eight categories, ranging from Least Concern to Extinct. Endangered species fall into three categories:
- Critically endangered is a species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Some notable examples of species that are critically endangered: orangutan, two types of elephant, and several species of gorilla.
- Endangered is a species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Some examples of species you’ll find on this list: monarch butterflies, tigers, sea turtles, and several types of whales.
- Vulnerable is a species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Here you’ll find the giant panda, the polar bear and the great white shark, among others.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s most comprehensive source of information on the conservation status of animal, plant and fungi species. IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species indicates 41,000—or 28% of all assessed species—are threatened with extinction.
It’s hard to imagine Planet Earth without some of these living species. The good news is that, given a chance, the animal kingdom has an extraordinary ability to heal itself. That’s why days like National Wildlife Day are so important.
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How to celebrate National Wildlife Day
Here are four ways you can celebrate National Wildlife Day:
- Learn. Take some time to learn more about the plight of endangered species. Reading this blog post and checking out some of the external site links is a great place to start. You could also visit a zoo or conservation park. I also highly recommend a few of Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries that you’l find on Netflix: Our Planet, A Life on our Planet, and Life in Colour.
- Donate. Consider supporting causes that support wildlife conservation with a charitable donation.
- Adopt some new habits. We can all take steps to live a more sustainable life and reduce our personal impact. If you don’t know where to start, check out 31 ways to join the Plastic Free July movement for ideas.
- Spread the word. Keeping the conversation top of mind is something we can all do. Share this post, tell people what you’ve learned and how you’re making a difference.
National Wildlife Day is an excellent opportunity to learn about the plight of endangered species and what you can do to help. We must act now. Conservation efforts can make a difference…and extinction is forever.
Which animal species do you love the most? Tell me your thoughts below.
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Love these ideas on celebrating national wildlife day! Learning is such an important tool 🙂
Thanks Caroline. There is so much to learn about so many things!
In the UK, beavers and certain birds of prey have been reintroduced and doing well.
Nature doesn’t need us but we need nature. We shouldn’t take it granted.
That is so true Rachel. Nature can survive on its own, but human activity can easily destroy it. Good to hear about the beavers and birds of prey.
A cause worthy of 2 days. Our area is affected by many of these issues – overfishing, deforestation, flooding. People are concerned and continue to press the politicians for action.
I have read that Monarch butterflies are making a comeback. So beautiful!
It is a concern that we have to keep top of mind for politicians. I have definitely seen more monarchs this year than in the last few years. That’s a good sign.