World Wildlife Day 2018 - 3rd March

The 3rd March 2018 is World Wildlife Day and this year’s theme is “Big cats: predators under threat".  

Big cats are arguably the world’s most admired creatures but sadly these beautiful  animals are under threat due to the actions of mankind. Big cat populations are facing unprecedented dangers from loss of habitat, conflicts with people, poaching and illegal wildlife trades. World Wildlife Day aims to raise awareness and support to save these majestic animals from extinction.

The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) reports that wild tiger numbers dropped by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. They are aiming to help double the number of wild tigers to over 6,000 by 2022 – the next Chinese year of the tiger. They also reported that lions have disappeared from 90% of their historical range and there could be as little as 4,000-6,500 snow leopards living in the wild today. 

Did you know that according to the IUCN Red List Status, tigers are endangered, whilst leopards, snow leopards, lions and cheetahs are all vulnerable; leaving Jaguars near threatened and Pumas at the least concern. Although it seems positive for the puma, the status of puma populations in Central and South America is largely unknown, and many are suspected to be in decline, meaning that all of our big cats are in danger of extinction unless we get involved.

You can get involved to save big cats and the environment by following these tips for the UN:

Set a Goal - Live your daily life with the smallest negative impact on the environment, wildlife and their habitats.

Mobilise - Encourage local schools, clubs, governments and businesses to discuss wildlife conservation and what you and your community can do to help.

Visit - Aquariums, botanical gardens, national parks and nature reserves. Research holiday destinations and countries that work hard to protect wildlife and habitats.

Consume Responsibly - By not purchasing products made from illegally sourced protected wildlife or their parts and products, you can stop wildlife trafficking from being a profitable enterprise. 

Volunteer - we cannot always give money, but we can donate our time. Often wildlife organisations and zoos have volunteer programs. You could also help clean beaches, rescue wild animals or teach tourists about your local habitat.

Stay informed - Learn more about our planet’s flora and fauna, including those that are in danger of extinction. Research ways that you or your community can conserve and protect wildlife. Inform yourself on current environmental matters and be aware of your individual impact on ecosystems and wildlife. Think globally, act locally.

Speak up - Share your knowledge, passion and questions about wildlife conservation with your friends, family and community – either in person or online.

Reach out - Inform authorities if you have information on illegal logging, fishing and wildlife trafficking; whistle-blowers play a critical role in detecting wildlife crimes and holding criminal smugglers accountable.

How will you be getting involved?

#WorldWildlifeDay, #BigCats, #PredatorsUnderThreat, #WWD2018,  #DoOneThingToday, #iProtectBigCats

If you want to know how you can save our animals and our environment, have you thought about saving our oceans too? It's well publicised that our plastic addiction is causing harm to the environment and especially our planet’s oceans. Here are our 10 tips on how you can reduce your plastic consumption.

Sources 

http://www.wildlifeday.org/content/get_involved 

https://www.wwf.org.uk/wildlife/tigers

http://blogs.wwf.org.uk/blog/wildlife/tigers/bbcs-big-cats-shows-felines-trouble/