World Orangutan Day
Animal awareness days
Held on August 19th, World Orangutan Day is the perfect time to learn more about these great apes, their lives in the wild, and the threats they face.
World Wildlife Day
Animal Awareness Days
World Wildlife Day is on March 3rd and people around the world will be celebrating the natural world and its inhabitants.
Read on to find out more about the day, why it exists, and how you can take part in celebrating.
What is World Wildlife Day?
World Wildlife Day is a United Nations international day essential in bringing awareness to the wild animals and the natural habitat they live in. By educating more people on the needs of wildlife, we can take better care for the animals, both in the wild and those who are unfortunately in captivity.
Wild animals belong in the wild and deserve to live in their natural environment. World Wildlife Day is a reminder of that, and we believe that wild animals should have a right to a wild life.
World Wildlife Day is a day to celebrate all the natural biodiversity that creates the world around us. From the largest animal to the smallest plant, each plays their part and contributes to the health of our planet.
When is World Wildlife Day?
World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd.
The date of March 3rd was chosen as it is the date CITES was founded. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) began in 1973, and this year will be the 50th year of the organisation operating.
Why celebrate World Wildlife Day?
Most captive animals have either been taken from their natural home in the wild, or bred in captivity, having never known real freedom. There are hundreds of thousands of animals currently being held in captivity, in unnatural environments, and forced to perform for tourists.
These animals range from many species, from tigers and elephants performing tricks to donkeys and camels being used as transportation. Venues can range from amusement parks to mobile zoos, and deceptive marketing can create the illusion of sustainability and ethical values. However, the reality is far from kind.
Harsh training methods are used to get animals to behave in certain ways. The animals are disciplined until the ‘correct’ behaviour is implemented.
However, by sharing information and raising awareness, more people are being made aware of the suffering captive animals endure for ticket sales. Together, we can end the commercial exploitation of wildlife.
Join our fight against the exploitation and commodification of wild animals.
Donate now
When you make a donation, you’ll join a passionate group of supporters who are determined to change the world for animals. We're fighting animal cruelty wherever we find it — are you with us?
DonateHow to celebrate World Wildlife Day
This World Wildlife Day, make sure you do your best to support wild animals and their natural environments.
Attending animal shows on holiday may seem supportive, but the reality doesn’t reveal the suffering they face. Harsh training methods, repetitive performances, and unnatural living environments keep thousands of animals in an endless cycle of suffering.
You can celebrate World Wildlife Day and support wild animals by:
- Do not buy any tickets to shows featuring captive wild animals.
- Donate to help us end the cruelty and suffering of wild animals.
- Book with companies that do not promote animal shows, and avoid the companies actively failing wild animals.
- Always choose ethical travel methods, such as Ecotourism
- Telling your friends and family about the reality behind the performances for these animals 🗯
Related content
World Wildlife Day
Animal Awareness Days
World Wildlife Day on March 3rd celebrates the natural world and its inhabitants. Join us in educating the world on why wildlife deserves a wild life.
World Vegetarian Day
Animal Awareness Days
World Vegetarian Day is observed worldwide on October 1st, find out how you can raise awareness for animal welfare by promoting a meat-free lifestyle.
Read the latest wildlife blogs
-
Understanding Sentience In Marine Mammals
Blog
Find out how our understanding of animal sentience should motivate us to take responsibility for protecting marine life...
-
Factory farming: the real climate culprit
Blog
Explore our reports on factory farming and discover why governments need to act to protect our climate, wildlife...
-
Keep Wildlife In The Wild
Blog
In this Q&A, we discuss the suffering of sentient wild animals when they are kept in captivity for...
-
“Meat Animals” are Living Individuals
Blog
In this Q&A, explore what our understanding of — and cultural disconnect from — animal sentience means for...