World Wildlife Day 2027 is on Wednesday

About World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day covers the full range of wild species, plants as well as animals, and the people whose food, health and income depend on them. Each year has a theme set by the UN and its partners. The 2026 theme, for example, focused on medicinal and aromatic plants and their role in health, cultural heritage and local livelihoods.

The date recalls March 3, 1973, when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, was signed in Washington, DC. At the CITES Conference of the Parties held in Bangkok in March 2013, Thailand proposed declaring March 3 as World Wildlife Day, and the parties agreed and asked the UN to do the same. On December 20, 2013, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day in resolution 68/205.

The CITES Secretariat facilitates the global observance, working with UN agencies and conservation groups to announce the theme, hold events and share materials. CITES itself is one of the main international tools for making sure trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival, which is why the day often draws attention to wildlife trafficking.

Sources: United Nations: World Wildlife Day, World Wildlife Day (CITES): About. How we check dates.

How to mark World Wildlife Day

• Find out which species in your region are threatened, using your state or national wildlife agency's website.
• Before buying souvenirs abroad, check that items made from animals or plants, such as ivory, coral, reptile skins or rare woods, are not banned or restricted.
• Join a community science project, such as a bird count or a plant survey in a local park.
• Plant native species in a yard, balcony or community space to support local wildlife.
• Watch the UN's official World Wildlife Day event online or share its materials with a class or group.

World Wildlife Day dates