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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated that “time is running out” to end wildlife poaching that threatens some of the world’s most iconic species, such as elephants, as the UN marked World Wildlife Day.

With the World Wildlife Fund advising that the world is in the middle of an era of extinction, with the numbers of land species animals having declined by 39% between 1970 and 2010, today (3rd March) marks World Wildlife Day.

Urging global efforts to protect this essential natural heritage for current and future generations, Secretary-General Ban in a message, echoing the theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day that much more needs to be done by key actors on all continents and across sectors, stressing that “the future of wildlife is in our hands.”

“For too long, the world has been witness to heart-breaking images of the mass slaughter of elephants for their tusks.”

He added that according to the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the killing of African elephants and trafficking in their ivory remain alarmingly high. Asian elephants are also subject to growing levels of poaching. An estimate shows that about 100,000 elephants were slaughtered for their ivory between 2010 and 2012.

Under the theme, The future of wildlife is in our hands, African and Asian elephants are a main focus of the 2016 World Wildlife Day. Countries around the world are encouraged to highlight species of wild animals and plants from their own countries, adapting the global theme to suit.

Secretary-General Ban said that last year, UN Member States adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including specific targets to end poaching. The UN General Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution to limit illicit trafficking in wildlife.

He added that to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, it is essential to address both the demand and supply of illegal wildlife products through agreed goals and targets and international instruments, such as the CITES.

In an additional message, John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, noted that the current wildlife crisis is not a natural phenomenon, such as a drought, a flood or a cyclone, declaring “it is the direct result of people’s actions.”

Scanlon noted that across every continent, governments and citizens are tackling both demand and supply, making wildlife crime much riskier and far less profitable, adding “we are beginning to turn the tide on wildlife trafficking”, adding, that much still remains to be done, and a collective success will rely upon the individual actions taken by each.

UN Environmental Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said that the disappearance of individual species threatens biodiversity, and by extension, the life support systems on the planet.

The Day, Scanlon added is “a call to become more informed and more involved in stopping this crime against nature, communities and future generations.”

Braulio de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said wildlife is also the basis of biodiversity. Biodiversity in the wild is just as important to human wellbeing as biodiversity in plants and animals used for human consumption. Wildlife is incremental to forestry, fishery and tourism livelihoods around the world. Quite simply, biodiversity keep ecosystems functional providing the ecosystem services to allow people to survive, get enough food, and make a living.

Dias concluded “the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife is therefore a critical component of sustainable development, and should be part of a comprehensive approach to achieving poverty eradication, food security and sustainable livelihoods.”

Images (from top): In June 2014, the UN Secretary-General visited Nairobi National Park in Kenya and adopted a lion cub as a sign of support for efforts against the trafficking of animals around the world. He said he adopted the cub, whose Kiswahili name Tumaini means ‘hope’”, to show solidarity for the preservation efforts (courtesy UN/Eskinder Debebe) and Asian elephants at Western Plains Zoo, NSW (below).

3rd March 2016 - NEW RESEARCH PROJECT TO ADDRESS CRITICAL WILDLIFE NESTING SHORTAGE ON WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

22nd April 2015 - WORLD’S PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS RECEIVE EIGHT BILLION VISITS A YEAR

25th March 2015 - INTERNATIONAL ZOO ASSOCIATION ACCUSED OF OVERLOOKING HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY

20th November 2014  - IUCN SUMMIT DELIVERS MAJOR COMMITMENTS TO SAVE EARTH’S MOST PRECIOUS NATURAL AREAS

19th November 2014  - CRIMINAL WILDLIFE POACHING DRIVING ENDANGERED SPECIES TO BRINK OF EXTINCTION

6th November 2014  - STEVE IRWIN DAY TO HONOUR LEGACY OF AUSTRALIA’S WILDLIFE WARRIOR

16th October 2012 - PHILIPPINE COURT HALTS EXPORT OF RESORT WORLD SENTOSA’S DOLPHINS

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