Endangered Species Day 2020: Save Animals From Extinction, Sitting In Your Home

This Friday marks the 15th Annual Endangered Species Day, an annual event celebrated every third Friday of May.

Each year, this day is observed to raise awareness about endangered species, educate people on how they can be protected, and celebrate those animals that have already recovered due to conservation efforts.

Often, Endangered Species Day is celebrated through various events and activities. This year, however, most events will be done online, from documentary screenings to art contests.

People can also celebrate Endangered Species Day at their own homes by watching or reading about endangered species, or by taking a tour of the United States national parks via Google Earth. Raising awareness can also be done by the simple step of posting about the event on social media.

There are also ways people can protect endangered species even from their homes, whether it is Endangered Species Day or not. For example, they could learn about the endangered species in their area. This way, people will have better awareness about the wildlife around them and might make an effort to ensure their communities are environmentally friendly.

For instance, creating a wildlife habitat for animals in the backyard could be a good way to help them. If the area hosts endangered bird species, then placing bird feeders and bird houses could help them. Placing decals on windows could also help prevent bird collisions.

It is also important to choose sustainable products and to not support selling of items made from endangered species. These include items made of ivory from elephants or tortoise shells.

When it comes to plants, it's important to choose native plant species because non-native ones can end up overtaking the native vegetation that local animals depend on. Furthermore, opting for native species can attract and support local pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Using herbicides and pesticides should also be minimized as these may end up as pollutants that wash into streams and rivers, affecting the wildlife they host. The same goes for chemicals such as paint and antifreeze, which can pollute the water if dumped down the drain.

Simple everyday choices can also help protect endangered species. For instance, using less water at home can help save the habitats of the animals, while driving slower can minimize the potential risk of collisions.

All over the world, governments as well as non-government organizations are making efforts in protecting the Earth’s biodiversity. In the U.S., where experts estimate up to a third of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction, the Endangered Species Act has helped recover and protect several species such as the American alligator and the bald eagle.

Not everyone has a chance to volunteer their time to protect endangered species, but many people can do their part to help preserve biodiversity from their own homes by becoming more aware of their environment and the impacts of their actions.