{"id":35230,"date":"2025-05-13T15:14:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T19:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.endangered.org\/?p=35230"},"modified":"2025-05-13T15:14:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T19:14:52","slug":"endangered-species-day-marks-its-20th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.endangered.org\/endangered-species-day-marks-its-20th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Endangered Species Day Marks Its 20th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hundreds of Events Planned Across the U.S. to Celebrate Our Most Endangered Wildlife<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington, D.C. \u2013 On Friday, May 16, thousands of Americans will participate in Endangered Species Day events and activities nationwide, recognizing the public\u2019s commitment to protecting and restoring our disappearing wildlife. This is the 20th annual Endangered Species Day, which is held on the third Friday of May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immensely, popular<\/a> and successful, the Endangered Species Act has been at the core of our country\u2019s commitment to protecting wildlife and the natural world for our children and grandchildren since 1973. Ninety-nine percent <\/a>of species protected under the Endangered Species Act have been saved from extinction, including the humpback whale and bald eagle. The Endangered Species Act protects over 2,000 species of plants and animals that are threatened or endangered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, Endangered Species Day occurs as thousands of people across the United States speak out against billionaire-backed proposals to weaken environmental protections, including the Endangered Species Act, and call on their elected officials to uphold safeguards for biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEndangered Species Day honors our national responsibility to future generations to be good stewards of nature,\u201d stated Susan Holmes, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition\u2013the primary sponsor of Endangered Species Day. \u201cThe Endangered Species Act is our safety net for fish, plants, and wildlife on the brink of extinction. Because of the Endangered Species Act, gray whales still swim our oceans, peregrine falcons still soar our skies, and polar bears roam the arctic tundra.\u201d

Endangered Species Day was first created by the U.S. Senate in 2006, when it unanimously designated May 11, 2006, as the first ever \u201cEndangered Species Day\u201d to encourage \u201cthe people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Endangered Species Act was passed because Americans believed then, as they do now, that protecting our wildlife is a moral imperative and a responsibility to future generations. It protects more than our fellow creatures; it also safeguards our nation\u2019s environmental health and the heart of the American way of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress, states, and towns across the country also recognize Endangered Species Day. In Boone and Chapel Hill, NC, the towns will vote on proclamations tomorrow designating May 16th, 2025, as Endangered Species Day to show their support for the Endangered Species Act and its protections of our most vulnerable wildlife, like the Hellbender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 16th, and throughout the month, wildlife refuges, zoos, aquariums, parks, botanic gardens, schools, libraries, museums, and community groups will hold Endangered Species Day events. Some highlights include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n