“Investment in our young people will ensure the continued survival of wild animals and plants and help us in the fight against the devastating illicit trade in wildlife.” ~ John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES
Today is World Wildlife Day, a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the wild animals and plants that inhabit our incredible planet. This year’s theme urges animal lovers everywhere to “listen to the young voices.” Nearly half of the world’s population is under the age of 25 – that’s roughly 3 billion young people!
Now, more than ever, we need to encourage these future leaders to take action and protect endangered wildlife before they are gone forever. Today, we seek to empower both millennials and Gen Z so that they may be the last generations to ever have to worry about species extinction. We incite these young people to make their voices heard and call for change before it is too late.
There are currently over 40,000 species on the IUCN Red List. Of these species, approximately 16,000 of them are endangered – translation: they’re at risk of extinction. More than 1,000 of these endangered species are native to the U.S. alone. Each year this number grows larger and larger from pollution, habitat destruction, poaching, and illegal trade. If left unchecked, the results could be catastrophic.
The loss of even a single species reverberates through the food chain, impacting all plants and wildlife within an ecosystem. Natural landscapes are slowly disappearing with little hope for reversal or regrowth. 
From advances in medicine to helping us breathe, the reasons for protecting these wild spaces and their inhabitants are innumerable.
For millennials and Gen Z, sustainability is no longer merely a suggestion, but an immediate responsibility. Change must happen now on both a local and global scale. We owe the earth, its wildlife, and its diverse habitats the simple kindness of respect and appreciation. While it is still up to everyone to do their share in protecting the environment, these young voices are the driving proponents of future change. Together, we can enhance them so that they may echo and resound around the world, inspiring protective policies that keep our wild plants’ and animals’ best interests in mind. So, we ask everyone – no matter which generation you may be a part of – to #DoOneThingToday to support conservation efforts and help save the world’s wildlife.
Learn more about Dallas Zoo’s wildlife conservation partners, and how you can get involved. Plus, visit our volunteers page and get hands-on with us – kids, too!
Recent Comments