World Wildlife Day 2018 – Big cats: predators under threat

World Wildlife Day – held every year on 3rd March – is now five years old and more important than ever.

This year the focus is on the threats to big cats around the world, and, crucially, what we can do to help them.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres says in his official message that big cats “are collectively under threat from habitat loss, climate change, poaching, illicit trafficking, and human-wildlife conflict…We are the cause of their decline, so we can also be their salvation”.

“On World Wildlife Day, I call on people around the world to help raise awareness and to take personal action to help ensure the survival of the world’s big cats and all its precious and fragile biological diversity”, he concludes.

The day is being supported with multiple events - from school classrooms to huge meeting halls - around the world and leading international organisations are also taking part.

From WWF to the World Bank; from Interpol to the Born Free Foundation, there is a real groundswell of support to protect big cats from the many increased dangers they face in the modern world.

The UN is holding a ‘high-level event’ in New York to discuss what more needs to be done. There will be a film screenings, festivals, uphill hikes, lectures and conservation activities right across the world.

There is a way back for big cats and many success stories. Erik Solheim, the head of UN Environment, gives the example of a cashmere programme to support snow leopards. Sheep herders in their terrain have been implementing “sound grazing and wildlife protection plans”, which is “helping them earn better livelihoods through a ‘sustainable cashmere’ certification, and protect the beautiful snow leopard”.

 

What can you do to help?

Share facts and photos about big cats on social media; join an event, or start your own competition.

Find out more about you can get involved here.

If you’re on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, use the hashtags #WorldWildlifeDay, #PredatorsUnderThreat, or #WWD2018 to raise awareness.

Events Map

Find out more about the hundreds of events taking place around the world