World Animal Day, annually held on October 4, aims to improve the welfare and status of animals around the globe. The lives of animals are profoundly influenced by human activities, which can have a devastating impact, such as habitat loss as a result of deforestation and mining. Therefore, it is essential to raise people's awareness to protect animals and preserve their homes on Earth.
The topic of World Animal Day this year is A Shared Planet, promoting the concept that animals and humans are sharing the same living spaces on Earth and humans should respect animals' rights to ensure their quality of life.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, more than 41,000 species are threatened with extinction, which is 28 percent of all assessed species. Organizations and governments have made joint efforts on animal protection and habitat conservation during the past years and have made progress.
A herd of Tibetan antelopes grazes in Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Province, northwest China, July 25, 2020. /CFP
Tibetan antelope, once an endangered species, was listed as a near threatened species in 2016, with an increasing number of about 300,000 in the wild. During their breeding season every year, Tibetan antelopes travel to Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Qinghai Province to give birth, and will return to their original habitat with their calves. Workers of the Wudaoliang Protection Station at the reserve will stop vehicles and people when herds of Tibetan antelope try to across the road, keeping them distant from the animals. Such actions, along with habitat conservation, have decreased the antelope's fatality rate caused by poaching and car collisions in the past.
Two monarch butterflies fly in a forest in California, U.S., February 6, 2022. /CFP
The migratory monarch butterfly, known for their 4,000-kilometer journey between Mexico and California during their breeding seasons, entered the IUCN red list as endangered species, due to habitat destruction and climate change. Its native population has declined by between 22 percent and 72 percent over the past decade, according to a report published on IUCN in July.
Although improvement on animal protection has been made, what else could people do to further save animals? Here are some tips.
1. Don't feed or touch wild animals. Just observe.
2. Don't keep wild animals as pets.
3. Don't free exotic animals (e.g. fish, spiders, birds and snakes) in the wild unless you have consulted experts.
4. Take garbage (e.g. plastic products) away after camping.
5. If you see an injured animal, contact an expert or send them to a veterinarian.
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)