World Wildlife Day is a United Nations day, marked every year on 3 March. It celebrates wild animals and plants and what they give to people and the planet.
This year
| Year | Date | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 3 March | Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 3 March | Not announced yet |
Why 3 March
On the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in Washington. The UN General Assembly made 3 March World Wildlife Day in , and the CITES Secretariat runs it.
What India does on the day
- 2025, Gir: on the Prime Minister chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Gir National Park in Gujarat. He released India’s first river dolphin estimate (6,327 dolphins in 28 rivers across eight states), and announced the 16th count of Asiatic lions, a new project for gharials, a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan and a centre of excellence for human-wildlife conflict at Coimbatore.
- Zoos and forest departments hold talks, nature walks and competitions for students.
What you can do
- Don’t buy wildlife products: skins, ivory, shells, live birds or turtles as pets. Trade in protected species is an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Report injured wild animals to the state forest department or a wildlife rescue group, and don’t handle them yourself. Find one in the Directory: Wildlife Rescue organisations.
- Read and share wildlife news and laws from the Wildlife category.
Questions and answers
Related on Animal Writes
- Guides: Wildlife Week; Animal days in India (the full list)
- Category: Wildlife
- Directory: Wildlife Rescue organisations
By Animal Writes
