World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day History

World Wildlife Day seeks to celebrate the world's plants and animals while raising awareness of issues that impact wildlife. Wildlife refers to all undomesticated native plants and animals of a region. The day also serves to highlight issues such as urbanization, poaching, pollution, and the destruction of wildlife habitats. It encourages everyone to contribute to conservation efforts.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Wildlife Day in December of 2013 as a celebration that would take place annually on March 3rd. The date chosen coincides with the day the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed. The CITES is a document that regulates the trade of wild animals and plants around the world.

Top 8 Facts for World Wildlife Day in 2026

• The official theme for the upcoming observance is Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods, which shifts the global spotlight onto the critical but often overlooked role that wild vegetation plays in human survival and cultural identity.
• This year's celebration marks the anniversary of the 1973 signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an landmark international agreement designed to ensure that global trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants.
• Recent scientific assessments reveal that over 50,000 wild species are used globally for food, medicine, and energy, yet approximately 20 percent of the plant species specifically used for medicinal purposes are currently threatened with extinction due to overharvesting and habitat loss.
• A major highlight of the event is the Jackson Wild WWD2026 Film Showcase, which features a collection of powerful documentaries and short films that illustrate the intricate relationships between local communities and the botanical resources they protect.
• The eighth annual World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest has invited young artists from around the world to depict the ethnobotanical connections between fauna and flora, with the winning entries set to be revealed during the official United Nations livestream.
• Conservationists are emphasizing that between 70 and 95 percent of people in developing countries still rely on traditional medicine derived from wild plants for their primary healthcare, making the protection of these species a matter of global health security.
• The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework serves as a backdrop for this year’s discussions, aiming to restore 20 percent of degraded ecosystems and significantly reduce the impact of invasive species by the middle of the century.
• This year’s official outreach efforts are led by the CITES Secretariat in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, focusing on how sustainable harvesting of wild plants can support both local economies and global biodiversity.

In the News and Trending in the US for World Wildlife Day

Top things to do in the US for World Wildlife Day

• Enjoy the planet’s biodiversity by visiting the zoo or by going on a safari. You could also visit a nature museum, a botanical garden, or a national park to see the wide variety of flora and fauna.
• Volunteer to help clean up trash and other debris along a beach, park or stretch of road. Garbage and debris pollute the water and land habitats of our planet's plants and animals. In addition to polluting, garbage and debris can be ingested by animals or can act as a net and trap them.
• Watch documentaries about conservation efforts and global loss of biodiversity. Some of our favorites are: Call of Life (2010), End of the Line (2009), Home (2009) and Garbage Island (2008).
• Make a donation to one of the many organizations that conserve and protect the planet's biodiversity. Organizations include the World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Alliance and Animal Welfare Institute.
• Host a wildlife party. Prepare different trivia questions and facts about animals and plants and divide your friends into teams to see who is the most knowledgeable about the world's biodiversity.