March 3 was declared World Wildlife Day in commemoration of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES.)

Its aim is to ensure that international trade of animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild. It offers varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants.

The 2019 theme is “Life below water: for people and planet.”