World Wildlife Day: March 3, 2025

In 2013 – 3 years before I was born - the United Nations General Assembly declared March 3 the United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD), which has become a global annual event dedicated to animals living in the wild.

That warms my golden heart, because I have many friends who live in the forests, the streams, and the oceans, and they all have a vital role in our ecosystem. 

And this goes for all creatures . . . both great and small:

• From our bees and butterflies who are important pollinators of wild flowering plants and agricultural crops.

• To our bats who keep the mosquito population under control by consuming up to 1000 of those pesky insects per hour.

• To our seed-spreading birds, who through their droppings, keep the forests rich with new growth.

• To our opossums who, by consuming ticks, prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases to other species and humans.

• To my wolfie ancestors who, as apex predators, help naturally balance our wildlife populations.

• To our seals who, as they navigate our waterways, help cycle nutrients from the sea to the shore.

• To our amazing whales, who fertilize phytoplankton, which provide at least half of the planet’s oxygen.

Our wildlife keeps the balance of nature in check - from our flora to our fauna.  For instance, a large portion of a bear’s diet is the vegetation found in our forests, including skunk cabbage and wild fruit.  Another example is our foxes, who prey on small mammals, such as mice and squirrels.

Because each animal in the wild makes a significant contribution to the greater good, biodiversity is essential to maintain our planet’s health.  And protecting our precious wildlife – not just on World Wildlife Day, but every day – is a critical step toward preserving this beautiful planet we call home.

How do you plan to protect our wildlife?   Leave a comment for me below and use #WWD2025 to add a post to the World Wildlife Day chat.

P.S. Check out my video entitled "World Wildlife Day: March 3, 2025" for additional perspectives on this important day!