World Wildlife Conservation Day is on December 4 and we’re so excited to spread awareness about preserving Earth’s endangered flora and fauna. What do you think the most invasive species on Earth is? Monkeys? Catfish? Locusts? It’s us, humans. Nature’s most magnificent creatures are becoming endangered and being pushed to the brink of extinction by the greed of some humans, and this is causing irreparable harm to the wildlife ecosystem.
HISTORY OF WORLD WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DAY
World Wildlife Conservation Day is an occasion to be aware, reflect, and take action when it comes to issues that are threatening the planet’s wildlife biodiversity balance. Driven by the demand for illegal animal parts and products on the black market, humans have been hunting, poaching, and slaughtering several wildlife species to the brink of extinction.
Human interference in the world’s natural ecosystem has been ongoing for centuries. In the modern world, as humans traveled and settled in different parts of the world, they cleared land for farming, cut forests for shipbuilding, and began hunting and trapping for money. Over the years, wildlife hunting and poaching became more common and wildlife populations started to decline across the globe.
On November 8, 2012, Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State at that time, put out a call to action to raise awareness and engage conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts about World Wildlife Conservation Day. She also outlined the White House’s strategy to address the global problem of wildlife trafficking.
Unfortunately, even today, the illegal trade of endangered species on the black market is rising. Although governments across the world are trying their best and, in some cases, succeeding to stop this act, not all species are safe from poachers and hunters. This not only affects the wildlife but also the lives of millions of people who live within or close to forested areas in different parts of the world. So, it is time we act and work together to preserve and protect the wildlife to ensure their survival.