Today is an important day on the annual environmental calendar: World
Wildlife Day. This day is a prominent global wildlife event. On 20 December
2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World
Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and
plants.
This year’s theme (“Big cats: predators under threat”) involves precious
big cats (they not only include lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars (the four
largest wild cats that can roar), but also cheetahs, snow leopards, pumas,
clouded leopards, etc.), placing the spotlight on their protection. Lions,
tigers, leopards, and jaguars are majestic animals, symbolizing power and
courage. These cats are widely recognizable, admirable, and charismatic. Big
cat species are primarily found in Africa, Asia, and North, Central and South
America. Sadly, though, they face various and unprecedented threats (primarily
caused by human activities) to their survival in the wild, and globally too. Their
populations are rapidly declining due to loss of habitat and prey, conflicts
with people, poaching, and illegal trade.
According to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), “tiger populations plummeted by 95% over the
past 100 years and African lion populations dropped by 40% in just 20 years”.
According to the CITES Secretary-General, John E. Scanlon, “over the past
century we have been losing big cats, the planet’s most majestic predators, at
an alarming rate. World Wildlife Day 2018 gives us the opportunity to raise
awareness about their plight and to galvanize support for the many global and
national actions that are underway to save these iconic species. Through World
Wildlife Day big cats will generate the level of attention they all deserve to
be sure they are with us for generations to come”.
Follow the link for facts and statistics about cheetahs, jaguars, pumas,
leopards, lions, snow leopards, and tigers: http://www.wildlifeday.org/content/learn
Show your support for this incredibly important day by hosting your own
event with a big cats theme. It will be a roaring (pun intended) success!
References
