On December 20, 2013, at its 68th session, the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to proclaim March 3, the day of
the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day.
The theme for World Wildlife Day 2016 is "The future of wildlife is in our hands", with a sub-theme "The future of elephants is in our hands".
"On
this World Wildlife Day, I call on all citizens, businesses and
governments to play their part in protecting the world's wild animals
and plants. The actions taken by each of us will determine the fate of
the world's wildlife. The future of wildlife is in our hands!" - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Here are some important facts about the current status of wildlife on earth and the World Wildlife Day:
- World Wildlife Day is observed in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild fauna and flora and recognised the important role of CITES in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of species
- According to the United Nations, the theme for this year, "The future of wildlife is in our hands" reinforces the inextricable link between wildlife, people and sustainable development
- Over 56 billion farmed animals are killed by humans every year
- More than 3000 animals are slaughtered every second in the world
- Population of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish has declined by 52 percent globally between 1970 - 2010
- Value of illegal wildlife trade is 50 - 150 billion USD per year
- With 182 Member States, CITES remains one of the world's most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora.
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