♦ World Wildlife Day is observed every year on March 3 to highlight the significance of animals and plants in our lives. The day was set up by the United Nations in 2013 after Thailand suggested creating a day for wildlife awareness. On December 20, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly announced that March 3 would be marked as World Wildlife Day. The first celebration took place in 2014.

♦ The date was chosen because the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on March 3, 1973. CITES is a global agreement that makes sure trade in wild animals and plants does not harm their survival.

♦ 2026 theme: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”