68th Edition Wildlife Week is held on 02 - 08 October

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Mar 7, 2023, 14:51

National Wildlife Week is held from October 2 to October 8 every year to spread the message of protecting and preserving India's flora and fauna. This year, Indians will celebrate the 68th edition of Wildlife Week. In 1952, the Indian Board of Wildlife conceived the concept of Wildlife Week to generate awareness about the long-term goals of safeguarding India's wildlife. The Indian Board of Wildlife observed the first Wildlife Day in 1955. They then converted it to Wildlife Week in 1957.

During Wildlife Week in India, environmentalists and conservationists hold workshops to help people understand the significance of protecting wildlife. They also organize several awareness-building activities throughout the week. For example, during Wildlife Week in 1981, the administration of Jammu and Kashmir opened Dachigam National Park to the public. The State Forest and Wildlife Department declared the protected area a national park to help tourists gain a deeper insight into Kashmir's rich fauna, including hangul or the Kashmir stag.

World Wildlife Week

On December 20, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day. Their objective was to commemorate the adoption of the 'Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora' in 1973 to increase awareness of the world's wildlife and plants. The table below highlights the themes of Wildlife Week from the years 2015 to 2022.

Year

Theme

2022

Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration

2021

Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet

2020

Sustaining all life on earth

2019

Life below water: for people and planet

2018

Big cats - predators under threat

2017

Listen to the young voices

2016

The future of wildlife is in our hands, with a sub-theme, The future of elephants is in our hands

2015

It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime

Why Celebrate National Wildlife Week?

Fauna plays a critical role in maintaining nature's ecological balance. Any damage to it might threaten the ecology. India observes Wildlife Week because it is a biological hotspot supporting various animal species that deserve protection. India is home to nearly 7% of the world's biodiversity despite covering only 2.5% of the earth's land.

Wildlife Week in India

During National Wildlife Week in 2020, the Central Zoo Authority inaugurated the Prani Mitra award to recognize and reward zoo officers and workers that work for captive animal management. The winners were honoured at an online ceremony headed by the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. He also released a study during the event titled "Economic assessment of ecosystem services, National Zoological Park". The 2020 study recognized that in Indian zoos, there are currently 567 captive animal species (114 endangered species), with a total of 56481 unique animals.

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FAQS about Wildlife Week

Which week is popularly known as National Wildlife Week?

Indians observe National Wildlife Week from October 2 to October 8 every year.

What is the aim of Wildlife Week?

We celebrate Wildlife Week to protect fauna or animal life.

What was the theme of Wildlife Week in 2021?

The theme of Wildlife Week in 2021 was Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and the Planet.

What was the theme of Wildlife Week in 2020?

The theme of Wildlife Week in 2020 was RoaR (Roar and Revive).