World Wildlife Day 2016: 15 Ways To Save Earth’s Animals And Plants [PHOTOS]

Tanzania elephant — A 5-month-old orphaned elephant called Tembo plays with Lucy Fitzjohn at Tony Fitzjohn's Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary in Mkomazi, Tanzania, on June 19, 2012. African and Asian elephants will be a main focus for World Wildlife Day 2016 under the theme, "The future of wildlife is in our hands." Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Thursday marks World Wildlife Day, which the 68^th session of the United Nations General Assembly designated as a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the planet’s wild animals and plants. African and Asian elephants will be a main focus of this year’s World Wildlife Day under the 2016 theme, “The future of wildlife is in our hands.” However, people around the globe are always encouraged to highlight wildlife species from their own countries on the March 3 observance.

An estimated 100,000 elephants were slaughtered for their ivory tusks between 2010 and 2012 to meet a growing demand in Asia, where raw tusks sell for around $1,100 per kilogram. Most illegal ivory currently comes from the African elephant. But Asian elephants remain at risk. Thousands of elephants are also taken from their wild habitats and sold in the live elephant trade to be used in the tourism industry in countries like Thailand.

At the same time, climate change is posing a fundamental threat to the survival of wildlife species around the world and is putting natural resources at risk. So here are 15 easy ways you can help save Earth’s plants and animals on World Wildlife Day or any day. We also included some ridiculously cute and stunning photos of various wildlife species.

Australia penguin — Taronga Zoo’s wildlife rehabilitation supervisor releases a Fairy penguin named Charlie back into the wild at Long Reef in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 7, 2005. Paul Miller/Getty Images

1. Use social media to amplify the theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day with the hashtags #InOurHands and #WWD2016.

2. See Earth’s most amazing creatures up close by spending the day at a nearby national park, aquarium, wildlife refuge, museum or botanical garden.

Kenya elephants — Elephants walk across a path at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya, approximately 186 miles from Nairobi, Kenya, on May 21, 2015. TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images

3. Launch a campaign in your local community linked with World Wildlife Day.

4. Talk about the importance of saving the world’s wild animals and plants in schools and universities or with friends and families.

Germany wolves — Wolves stroll in their enclosure at Wildpark Schorfheide in Gross Schoenebeck, Germany, on Feb. 24, 2014. PATRICK PLEUL/AFP/Getty Images

5. Go vegan! Eating a vegan diet rather than an omnivorous one results in 1.485 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases per year, which is a bigger CO₂ savings than from switching to an eco-friendly car.

6. Organize wildlife photo exhibitions and donate the proceeds to a conservation organization.

England ducklings — Recently hatched ducklings walk with their mother at the Slimbridge Wetlands Wildlfire Centre near Dursley, England, on April 8, 2009. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

7. Go see a showing of wildlife films or organize your own screening. Finalists from the International Elephant Film Festival will be screened worldwide Thursday.

8. Pledge to be fur-free and refuse to buy or wear any fur.

9. Partake in the World Wildlife Day 2016 poster design contest for a chance to win a free ticket to South Africa.

Lions — Lionesses rest in the bushes of the Masai-Mara Game reserve in southwest Kenya in the predawn light on Aug. 7, 2003. MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images

10. Join a wildlife organization.

11. Donate to a local conservation project. If you’re strapped for cash, donate your time. You can volunteer to rescue wild animals, clean beaches or teach tourists about your local habitat.

Hawaii coral reef — A school of manini fish pass over a coral reef at Hanauma Bay in Honolulu on Jan. 15, 2005. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

12. Refrain from purchasing goods made from illegally-sourced protected wildlife or their parts and products. Buying these products is not only illegal and can put you in jail, it also harms a species and supports wildlife trafficking.

13. Collect signatures for a “say ‘no’ to illegal wildlife products” campaign.