National Endangered Species Day 2026
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Dr N Munal Meitei
National Endangered Species Day is observed on third Friday, 15 May to protect the threatened and endangered species since 2006. It calls for action to reduce the harmful human activities that threaten species, while also encouraging us to be more mindful and contribute to the well-being of nature and endangered species.
Our natural balance is presently at risk, and human actions further amplify and drive many species to the brink of extinction. This day calls for a crucial effort to preserve endangered species and their habitats. An endangered species is a plant or animal at serious risk of extinction unless its population numbers recover.
Now, the countless animal and plant species are on the threat of extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change and other human activities. From majestic tigers and elephants to rare orchids and marine turtles, every species plays a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems balanced. No matter how small or unseen - plays a vital role in maintaining the planet alive. The natural disasters, genetics, poor reproduction and decline in population are also causes of endangering a species. Scientists have worked to save endangered species since 1970s. These efforts have saved hundreds of species from extinction- inclu- ding the bald eagle-but those success stories have been the exception rather than the rule. The list of endangered species has more than doubled in the past two decades, according to IUCN.
The loss and degradation of nature, accelerated by climate change, is taking us towards tipping points. When nature’s systems pass a tipping point, the consequences can be devastating. Sometimes this happens at a local level – like reduce in fish populations in Loktak Lake leading to job losses in the surrounding Villages and reduced incomes in communities. But we are crossing the global tipping points. Doing so could threaten all our food supplies, destabilise economies and societies everywhere.
IUCN provides the most comprehensive global accounting of endangered species, classifying the species on a spectrum that ranges from data deficient, least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endan- gered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild, extinct and not evaluated. Thus, IUCN considers the criteria to determine whether a species qualifies as endangered, including a shrinking population, issues that prevent reproduction and vulnerability of the species’ habitat.
Species loss threatens theBiodiversity, the presence of a variety of species in a given area, which is key to sustaining both local ecosystems and the global ecosystem. Biodiversity helps ensure that certain specific and necessary functions are carried out within an ecosystem. Biodiversity ensures that if one species goes extinct or leaves a particular region, another is there to take its place. Ultimately, the collapse of ecosystems can lead to even bigger problems like the worsening of climate variation.
The need has never been greater. Nature loss continues at a frightening pace. Climate change is intensifying. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024 shows the average size of wildlife populations has plummeted by a shocking 73% in just 50 years. Now, more than 16,000 species of plants, animals, fungi and algae that are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Meanwhile, we’ve seen massive declines in precious habitats like tropical forests, grasslands, free-flowing rivers and sea ice. Environ- mental disasters are increasingly common and we’re being propelled towards critical tipping points – the Amazon rainforest drying out, loss of mangroves, co-ral reefs dying and the polar ice melting. These could bring catastrophic, irreversible changes to our world.
Almost every country has committed to global goals on climate and nature. These include the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, and the Global Biodiversity Framework targets to conserve 30% of all land and waters by 2030. But the world is not on course to meet them – and they don’t go far enough to bring our planet back to health.
Some of the most affected endangered species include: Cycads 71% threatened, Reef-forming corals 44%, threatened, Amphibians 41% threatened, Trees 38% threatened, Sharks, rays & chimeras 37% threa- tened, Conifers 34% threatened, Selected crustaceans 28% threatened, Mammals 27% threatened, Freshwater fishes 26% threatened, Reptiles 21% threatened and Birds 12% threatened. However, species can bounce back, and one of the most successful stories is the gray wolf.
To halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030 requires conservation on a scale never seen before.It also means addressing the causes of nature loss which include government policies, business practices, glo- bal finance systems and the way we produce and consume.
Endangered day matters because it connects these statistics to action. It gives communities a focal point to advocate for stronger protections, fund conservation work and educate the next generation about why biodiversity underpins heal-thy ecosystems, food secu- rity and climate resilience.
As habitats shrink and threats rise, countless species face the risk of disappearing forever. Their loss is not just ecological - it’s a loss of cultural heritage, natural harmony and future possibilities. By raising awareness, supporting conservation efforts and advocating for policies that prioritise protection, we can make a difference in securing a sustainable future for all living beings. National Endangered Species Day serves as a reminder that the fate of endangered species is intertwined with our own.
The writer is an environmentalist, working as DFO/Chandel
National Endangered Species Day is observed on third Friday, 15 May to protect the threatened and endangered species since 2006. It calls for action to reduce the harmful human activities that threaten species, while also encouraging us to be more mindful and contribute to the well-being of nature and endangered species.
Our natural balance is presently at risk, and human actions further amplify and drive many species to the brink of extinction. This day calls for a crucial effort to preserve endangered species and their habitats. An endangered species is a plant or animal at serious risk of extinction unless its population numbers recover.
Now, the countless animal and plant species are on the threat of extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change and other human activities. From majestic tigers and elephants to rare orchids and marine turtles, every species plays a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems balanced. No matter how small or unseen - plays a vital role in maintaining the planet alive. The natural disasters, genetics, poor reproduction and decline in population are also causes of endangering a species. Scientists have worked to save endangered species since 1970s. These efforts have saved hundreds of species from extinction- inclu- ding the bald eagle-but those success stories have been the exception rather than the rule. The list of endangered species has more than doubled in the past two decades, according to IUCN.
The loss and degradation of nature, accelerated by climate change, is taking us towards tipping points. When nature’s systems pass a tipping point, the consequences can be devastating. Sometimes this happens at a local level – like reduce in fish populations in Loktak Lake leading to job losses in the surrounding Villages and reduced incomes in communities. But we are crossing the global tipping points. Doing so could threaten all our food supplies, destabilise economies and societies everywhere.
IUCN provides the most comprehensive global accounting of endangered species, classifying the species on a spectrum that ranges from data deficient, least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endan- gered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild, extinct and not evaluated. Thus, IUCN considers the criteria to determine whether a species qualifies as endangered, including a shrinking population, issues that prevent reproduction and vulnerability of the species’ habitat.
Species loss threatens theBiodiversity, the presence of a variety of species in a given area, which is key to sustaining both local ecosystems and the global ecosystem. Biodiversity helps ensure that certain specific and necessary functions are carried out within an ecosystem. Biodiversity ensures that if one species goes extinct or leaves a particular region, another is there to take its place. Ultimately, the collapse of ecosystems can lead to even bigger problems like the worsening of climate variation.
The need has never been greater. Nature loss continues at a frightening pace. Climate change is intensifying. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024 shows the average size of wildlife populations has plummeted by a shocking 73% in just 50 years. Now, more than 16,000 species of plants, animals, fungi and algae that are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Meanwhile, we’ve seen massive declines in precious habitats like tropical forests, grasslands, free-flowing rivers and sea ice. Environ- mental disasters are increasingly common and we’re being propelled towards critical tipping points – the Amazon rainforest drying out, loss of mangroves, co-ral reefs dying and the polar ice melting. These could bring catastrophic, irreversible changes to our world.
Almost every country has committed to global goals on climate and nature. These include the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, and the Global Biodiversity Framework targets to conserve 30% of all land and waters by 2030. But the world is not on course to meet them – and they don’t go far enough to bring our planet back to health.
Some of the most affected endangered species include: Cycads 71% threatened, Reef-forming corals 44%, threatened, Amphibians 41% threatened, Trees 38% threatened, Sharks, rays & chimeras 37% threa- tened, Conifers 34% threatened, Selected crustaceans 28% threatened, Mammals 27% threatened, Freshwater fishes 26% threatened, Reptiles 21% threatened and Birds 12% threatened. However, species can bounce back, and one of the most successful stories is the gray wolf.
To halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030 requires conservation on a scale never seen before.It also means addressing the causes of nature loss which include government policies, business practices, glo- bal finance systems and the way we produce and consume.
Endangered day matters because it connects these statistics to action. It gives communities a focal point to advocate for stronger protections, fund conservation work and educate the next generation about why biodiversity underpins heal-thy ecosystems, food secu- rity and climate resilience.
As habitats shrink and threats rise, countless species face the risk of disappearing forever. Their loss is not just ecological - it’s a loss of cultural heritage, natural harmony and future possibilities. By raising awareness, supporting conservation efforts and advocating for policies that prioritise protection, we can make a difference in securing a sustainable future for all living beings. National Endangered Species Day serves as a reminder that the fate of endangered species is intertwined with our own.
The writer is an environmentalist, working as DFO/Chandel