Today we celebrate World Wildlife Day

Posted on 3 March 2025

If we don't want to see animals only in photographs in the future, we need to protect them as soon as possible. And you can help us with that: Donate for nature!

ZAGREB - Today we celebrate World Wildlife Day. This day is dedicated to the numerous animal and plant species that enrich our planet. Although we are all aware of the importance of healthy nature and rich wildlife populations, they have been in continuous decline for years.

Nice weather is coming, spring is approaching, and we are gradually spending more time in nature. However, we often take for granted everything it provides and what we enjoy - the smell of the forest, birdsong, the murmur of water, all that nature means to us and where we escape from our busy everyday lives. But what if that wasn't there?

Every two years, WWF publishes the Living Planet Report, which measures average changes in species population sizes, and each time the result is more concerning. The latest report shows an average decline in wildlife populations of 73% between 1970 and 2020 - a period shorter than the average human lifespan. If we continue to lose wild species at this rate, our children might only see some of them in photographs, and some of nature's sounds could be forgotten.

The worst situation is recorded in freshwater systems, which include rivers, lakes, wetlands, and all other wet habitats. Freshwater species populations have decreased by a frightening average of 85%. The pressure on them is constantly growing, both through direct exploitation of freshwater fish and through their endangerment due to habitat changes and blockages of their migration routes.

Birds living near and on rivers are not unaffected either. "Birds like the Little Tern or Little Ringed Plover nest on the ground, specifically on sandy and gravel river bars. Human activities, such as river bank fortification, channelization, and damming of rivers, reduce the number of sandbars and cause great harm to birds. Sand Martins, for example, nest in steep riverbanks, which is why they need banks that are not fortified by human activity. As such banks become scarcer, it's increasingly difficult for them to survive. These birds are indicators of healthy rivers, and without healthy rivers, the benefits that people derive from nature, such as food, clean water, climate regulation, and even protection from weather disasters, are significantly reduced," said Marina Petrić from WWF Adria.

WWF continuously works on protecting these often undervalued ecosystems. We are currently implementing several projects, of which the RESTORIVER project is dedicated to restoring riverbanks and riparian areas along the Danube and its tributaries affected by human activities, to strengthen climate resilience and natural water retention capacity. This contributes not only to biodiversity but also reduces the risk of floods, which is good for residents living near rivers. Through the "Restoration of the European Amazon" project, we are working on improving the UNESCO Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, to make it resilient and healthy, thus enabling the development of plant and animal life.

If you were surprised by the data you read and feel the need to loudly object, we also have a remedy for you - explore our latest campaign and donate for nature!

Bregunica

Today we celebrate World Wildlife Day

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