World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3 every year to raise awareness about the diversity of wildlife and plants on our planet. It was declared by the United Nations in 2013 the same day the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.
"The future of wildlife is in our hands", with African and Asian elephants being the main focus this year, the UN has called for an urgent attention towards the rampant illegal wildlife trade that has pushed thousands of animals to extinction.
Animals of different species, especially the rare ones, are hunted down indiscriminately with bullets, poison darts and traps. Illegal trade is mainly driven by the demand for products from animal parts like elephant tusks, rhino horns, pangolin skin among others.
According to statistics by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nearly 988 species are listed in the category of endangered animals. They call it the 'Red List'.
In India alone nearly50 per cent of the wildlife has been wiped off since the 70s,mostly because of poaching.
The primary reason for India to turn into a hub for the wildlife trafficking is the weak law enforcement mechanism. The Wildlife Protection Act has stipulated strict punishments which include prison terms and fines. The main impediment is the lack of coordination between the administration and law enforcement, which complicates the process of mitigating poaching.
The problem of poaching is multi-faceted, it not only affects animals but also the entire ecosystem. In line with this years theme, it is high time we took up the task to protect and conserve biodiversity on our planet.
The video below exposes how organised crime is pushing animals to the brink of extinction:
