Celebrate World Wildlife Day 2026 in your elementary classroom with printables, activities, and more teaching resources designed to introduce your students to the wonderful wild animals and plants found on Earth.

What Is World Wildlife Day?

World Wildlife Day (WWD) is an annual event that takes place on March 3rd to celebrate and raise awareness about the world's wild animals and plants. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to celebrate the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on March 3rd, 1973. The goal of World Wildlife Day is to celebrate the world's wild animals and plants and raise awareness about their conservation. The day also serves as a reminder to protect endangered species and their habitats and to address illegal wildlife trading.

When Is World Wildlife Day 2026?

World Wildlife Day will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

What Is the World Wildlife Day 2026 Theme?

Each year, a different theme is chosen for World Wildlife Day, focusing efforts and attention on a specific issue related to wildlife conservation. For example, past themes have included "Big cats: predators under threat" and "Sustaining all life on earth." In 2026, the UN has chosen "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods" as the theme to emphasize the essential yet often overlooked link between plants and people—their impact on health, cultural traditions, and economies—and the importance of preserving them.

How Can You Teach About World Wildlife Day?

Are you hoping to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation in your classroom this year? Here are a few ways to get started, courtesy of our teacher team!

Assign projects on specific endangered species: Students can create posters or reports that cover information about the biology, habitat, and conservation status of a particular species, as well as the threat it faces and the efforts being made to protect it.
Discuss the impact of human activities on wildlife: Depending on the grade you're teaching, this could include the effects of habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and illegal hunting on wildlife populations, as well as the ways in which these impacts can be mitigated.
Highlight the importance of biodiversity: Talk to your students about the role that wild animals and plants play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, as well as how the loss of biodiversity can impact wildlife and human populations.
Explore specific conservation organizations: Bring a real-world aspect into the World Wildlife Day lesson planning with a look at local organizations that work to protect wildlife and their habitats in your area.
Encourage conservation action: Remind students that they can make a difference for wildlife! Share how they can get involved in conservation efforts, such as supporting conservation organizations, reducing their own environmental impact, and participating in conservation-related events and activities.

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Ocean Pollution Art Activity