World Wildlife Day
March 3rd is observed as the World Wildlife Day. The 2020 observation is on the theme of ‘Sustaining all life on earth’.
- CITES:
March 3rd is observed as the World Wildlife Day in commemoration of the adoption of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in 1973. Also called the Washington Convention, it’s aimed at ensuring that international trade in wildlife specimens do not threaten their survival in the wild.
- Biodiversity Super Year:
2020 has been declared as ‘Biodiversity Super Year’ by the United Nations. This is in light of the key decisions to be taken in conserving the natural system in the upcoming international gatherings. After the recently concluded COP13 meeting of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), other important upcoming gatherings include UN Ocean Conference, IUCN World Conservation Conference, UN Nature’s Summit, etc.
- 2019 Extinctions:
In 2019, several wildlife species went extinct. These include the Sumatran Rhinoceros in Malaysia, Chinese Paddlefish of Yangtze River, Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle, Indian Cheetah, Spix Macaw of Brazil, Catarina Pupfish in Mexico and the Indo-Chinese Tiger.
