National Wildlife Day Date in the current year: September 4, 2024

Like many other philanthropic environmental holidays (for example, National Dog Day, National Cat Day, National Puppy Day, National Pet Day, National Horse Protection Day, etc.), National Wildlife Day was devised by animal behaviorist Colleen Paige, who is considered one of the leading Pet & Family Lifestyle Experts in the United States.

Paige created the holiday to bring awareness of endangered animals that need to be rescued and preserved, as well as to acknowledge animal sanctuaries, zoos and animal rehabilitation centers that help preserve endangered animals nationally and globally.

On the occasion of National Wildlife Day, environmental organizations and activists host special events aimed to educate people about the many endangered species around the world and teach them how they can contribute to conservation.

In addition to more obvious actions, such as volunteering at your local zoo or animal sanctuary, donating to conservation organizations, etc., there are more subtle ways to help endangered animals. For example, using less plastic helps save animals because plastic pollution that kills hundreds of thousands of see animals every year.

National Wildlife Day is celebrated twice a year to honor Steve Irwin, a famous Australian naturalist, conversationalist, zookeeper and television personality, best known as the founder of Australia Zoo in Queensland and the host of the television series The Crocodile Hunter. February 22 is Irwin’s birthday, and September 4 is his death anniversary (Irwin died at age 44 after being stung by a stingray while filming the documentary series Ocean’s Deadliest).

In addition to National Wildlife Day, there’s World Wildlife Day celebrated on March 3. It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2013 to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.