National Endangered Species Day: Numerous species of plants and animals around the world are in danger due to urbanisation and human growth. With the loss of habitat brought on by climate change, deforestation, pollution of water sources, and poaching, many species have become endangered globally.
National Endangered Species Day: Date
The third Friday in May is designated as National Endangered Species Day to increase public awareness of the significance of preserving endangered species. This year, On May 19 2023, this day will be observed.
National Endangered Species Day: Theme
This year’s theme is, “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the endangered species act!”
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National Endangered Species Day: History
Campaigns to raise awareness of endangered species were conducted all around the world in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1973 Endangered Species Act was created as a result of public concern. However, the US Senate did not create the historic National Endangered Species Day until much later, in 2006. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was officially signed into law on December 28 to support the enormous effort to stop the extinction of endangered species.
To reduce the risk of extinction for endangered species, hunting wild animals is prohibited by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
On this day, campaigners, zoos, wildlife organisations, and individuals emphasize educating the public about endangered species and encouraging them to take action to safeguard threatened species.
5 Endangered Species of India
Here are the top 5 endangered species in India, one of the most populated nations in the world. As a result of ongoing urban growth and deforestation:
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Bengal Tiger
The Bengal Tiger has been listed as one of the most endangered species as a result of decades of sustained poaching and trophy hunting. There are currently fewer than 2,000 individuals of the species remaining in the wild, and they only inhabit 7% of their historical ecological range.
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Snow Leopard
With a population of only 500 in India, the Snow Leopard can only be found in the states of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the western and eastern Himalayas.
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Asiatic Lion
The Gir National Park and its surroundings in Gujarat are the only places where the full population of this species may be found. There are just 500–650 Asiatic lions left in the country, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which listed the species as endangered in 2010.
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One-horned Rhinoceros
For decades, one-horned rhinoceroses have been killed as agricultural pests and heavily hunted for their horns, which are said to have therapeutic virtues.
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Blackbuck
The blackbuck, or Indian antelope, is currently one of India’s most endangered species as a result of widespread poaching throughout the princely states of the country. There were about 80,000 Blackbucks in 1947. In contrast, in less than 20 years, that number had decreased to 8,000.
