Nature is declining globally at unprecedented rates in human history, with a devastating 70% drop in wildlife populations since 1970. Today, Earth’s fauna and flora are dying off 1,000 times faster than during the 60 million years before the existence of humans, with around 30,000 species per year (or about three per hour) already going extinct. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Endangered Species Day?

👉 Official Name: Endangered Species Day
💚 Cause: Inspire collective action to protect endangered species worldwide
📅 Next Date: May 16, 2026
🌐 Official Website: www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/
🐦 Hashtag: #EndangeredSpeciesDay, #EndangeredSpecies

Keep reading to find out all the important information about Endangered Species Day at a glance: its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About Endangered Species Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: Endangered Species Day is a call to action by worldwide governments, conservationists, and dedicated organizations, to celebrate and learn about Earth’s biodiversity while urging the public to get involved in its conservation. This event raises awareness of the species of animals and plants that are currently under threat of extinction, emphasizing the root causes of this endangerment and how to stop it. 

2️⃣ Why it is important: Earth’s biodiversity – and thus its protection – is critical to human health, development, and ultimately, life. Unfortunately, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reports that there are 45,300 species threatened with extinction. In addition, another global study on 71,000 species revealed that 48% are decreasing. What’s more, 99% of endangered species are at risk because of human activities, such as habitat destruction for agriculture or industrial use, wildlife crime, poaching, and pollution (especially plastic pollution). Still, the biggest factor is climate change, which is expected to accelerate a sixth mass extinction and eradicate 50% of the world’s species by 2100. 

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can support Endangered Species Day by joining dedicated organizations, making eco-friendly habit changes, or engaging others in this celebration:

1. Advance protection: Donate your time and money to organizations that fight to protect endangered animals. You can also join them as an ambassador to advocate with politicians and businesses for the welfare of wildlife. Moreover, as wildlife extinction is mainly due to habitat loss, you can support nonprofits that conserve lands and reforest. 
2. Live sustainably: Implement practices for a wildlife-friendly lifestyle to provide indirect, but vital support to endangered animals by saving their habitats and ecosystem. Don’t forget to share this insight on social media to encourage others to follow in your footsteps. 
3. Involve your community: Many voices are more powerful than one, so involve your workplace and loved ones in fundraising initiatives, awareness events, advocacy efforts, and a more sustainable lifestyle! 

Below are our favorite charities that are relevant for Endangered Species Day:

• Best Charities That Fight for Endangered Animals
• Best Wildlife Conservation Charities
• Best Charities That Protect Wild Animals
• Best Charities for Reforestation
• Best Charities for Planting Trees
• Best Charities for Land Conservation
• Impactful Ninja: Animal Charities
• Impactful Ninja: Nature Conservation Charities

A Brief History of Endangered Species Day

When was this event established: Endangered Species Day was initially founded as a National US event in 2006 by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition, and was unanimously approved by the US Senate. The event aimed to inform people about the importance of protecting endangered species nationwide and highlight the individual actions they can take. In the same year, the US Senate also passed the Endangered Species Recovery Act to create recovery plans for endangered species. 

How has it developed since then: Since its inception, Endangered Species Day has spread internationally, under David Robinson’s initiative. Today, the event is celebrated worldwide, calling attention to species conservation and running educational events to inform the public about the gravity of the wildlife extinction we are currently experiencing. 

3 Interesting Facts About Endangered Species Day

1. The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō Bird: The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō bird had existed for five million years before it became extinct in about 150 years. The last individual of the species was male and his birdsong was recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It was a mating call that was supposed to be a duet, pausing when the female was due to sing her parts. This last male sang this mating call to a female bird that never came. He died in 1987. 
2. The Biggest Declines: The area with the largest wildlife extinction has been the tropical sub-regions of the Americas, where, in the last half a century, we have lost 94% of native wildlife. Meanwhile, the species with the biggest decline are freshwater wildlife, dropping by 83% in the same timeframe.
3. Of Insects and Plants: Current rates of decline may lead to 40% of the world’s insect species disappearing in the next few decades, with habitat loss as the main driver. In addition, four in ten – again, 40% – of known plant species are endangered. Even more worryingly, twice as many plants have disappeared in the last 250 years than birds, mammals, and amphibians combined.

Upcoming Dates of Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day is observed every year on the third Friday in May. 

Never Miss an Awareness Event Again

Sources

• World Wildlife Fund: WWF Living Planet Report: Devastating 69% drop in wildlife populations since 1970
• Brown University: Extinctions during human era worse than thought
• Fragments of Extinction: Mission
• Endangered Species Coalition: Endangered Species Day
• World Health Organization: Biodiversity and Health
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: home page
• Mongabay: Global study of 71,000 animal species finds 48% are declining
• Encyclopedia Britannica: endangered species
• World Economic Forum: 9 of the most shocking facts about global extinction – and how to stop it
• Guardian: ‘A barbaric federal program’: US killed 1.75m animals last year – or 200 per hour
• World Wildlife Fund: what is poaching? 
• Geneva Environment Network: Plastics and Biodiversity | Plastics and the Environment Series
• National Library of Medicine: Are We in the Midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction?
• World Animal Protection: Climate Change: The silent terminator that could make 50% of the world’s species go extinct by 2100
• Impactful Ninja: 10 Best Charities That Fight for Endangered Animals
• Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities for Land Conservation
• Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities for Reforestation
• IFAW: How to help protect endangered species
• Endangered Species Coalition: 15 Ways To Help Protect Endangered Species
• AIT: Lifestyle changes can contribute towards wildlife conservation
• UNICEF: The 27 best ideas for your next fundraiser
• Take Action for Wildlife Conservation: Lifestyle changes to make a difference
• The Endangered Species Conservation Site: about
• Endangered Species Coalition: home page
• Congress.gov:S.Res.431 – A resolution designating May 11, 2006, as “Endangered Species Day”
• Congress.gov: S.4087 – Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2006
• The Rumpus: First and Last Songs: The Extinct Song of the Kaua‘i ‘Ö‘
• YouTube: Kauai ‘O’o
• eBird: Kauai Oo
• Fauna & Flora: Explained: What does biodiversity mean?
• ScienceDirect: Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers 
• Science.org: Twice as many plants have gone extinct than birds, mammals, and amphibians combined