Every year, on the third Friday of May, conservationists, scientists, and nature enthusiasts worldwide come together to observe Endangered Species Day. This day serves as a reminder of the wildlife conservation initiatives worldwide dedicated to protecting endangered species and biodiversity.
Endangered Species Day was introduced by the United States in 2006 to raise awareness of the plight of endangered species and the importance of preserving their habitats. As human activities continue to alter wild ecosystems, many animals are threatened with extinction. According to the IUCN Red List, more than 157,100 species are classified as endangered, and 44,000 species are near extinction. To put things into perspective, 41% of amphibians, 37% of sharks and rays, 36% of corals, 34% of conifers, 26% of mammals, and 12% of birds are endangered worldwide.
At the heart of Endangered Species Day is a call to action for individuals, communities, and governments to take meaningful steps toward conservation. These include supporting conservation efforts, increasing personal education, adopting sustainable practices, advocating for policy change, and engaging in citizen science.
At the Refuge, we have several animals that represent endangered species, including tigers, lions, leopards, and servals.
- Four of the nine subspecies of leopards, the Javan, Arabian, Amur, and Indochinese, are endangered.
- Of the six remaining subspecies of tigers, all are endangered or critically endangered.
- Two of the remaining nine lion subspecies are critically endangered: the Transvaal and Asiatic.
- Of the three caracal subspecies, the Asiatic caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) is critically endangered.
- Of the seven cougar subspecies, the Florida Panther and North American cougar of Canada are endangered.
- Of the three serval subspecies, the one inhabiting Algeria is critically endangered, if not extinct.
As wildlife advocates at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, we know this day is very important. Over the years, we have emphasized our ability to educate the public and advocate for saving animals. With the upcoming development of our education center, we can spread our mission globally, increasing our impact to protect our planet’s endangered species.
For more information, visit turpentinecreek.org/capital-campaign/