Current Affairs PDF

World Animal Day 2022 – October 4

AffairsCloud YouTube Channel - Click Here

AffairsCloud APP Click Here

World Animal Day - October 4 2022World Animal Day (WAD) is annually observed across the globe on October 4 to create awareness about improving animal welfare standards across the world.It is a global initiative for animal rights that aims at ensuring better standards for animal welfare.

  • The mission of WAD is to raise the status of animals to improve welfare standards around the globe.

The theme of World Animal Day 2022 is ‘Shared Planet’.

Background: 

i. World Animal Day was 1st organised by the German writer and publicist, cynologist Heinrich Zimmermann on 24th March 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany.

  • It was the 1st observed World Animal Day and the event was attended by more than 5,000 people.

ii. In 1931, International Animal Protection Congress (IARC) approved World Animal Day in Florence, Italy.

Why October 4?

The day moved from 24th March to 4th October including as a memorial day of the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi, who is considered the patron saint of animals.

Key Points:

i. Russia celebrated the day in 2000 to draw public attention to the problem of preserving animals, including those on the verge of extinction.

ii. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) report, the Global Living Planet Index 2020 says that between 1970 and 2016, the number of populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish decreased by an average of 68%.

iii. The most significant losses (94%) are caused by populations of wild species living in Latin America. In Africa, populations decreased by 65%, in the Asia-Pacific region by 45%, in North America by 33%, and in Europe and Central Asia by 24%.

World’s Most Endangered Animals in 2022:

Animals Number of Species leftStatus 
Amur Leopard84 individuals left in the Wild.Critically Endangered
Rhino27,000 rhinos remain in the Wild.

  • 60 individuals left (Javan rhino)
  • 5,500 individuals (while black rhino)
Critically Endangered
Orangutani. 104,700 (Bornean orangutan)

ii. 7,500 (Sumatran orangutan)

i. Endangered

ii. Critically Endangered

Gorilla200-300 adult Cross River Gorillas left in the WildCritically Endangered
SaolaLess than 750 left.Critically Endangered
Vaquita10 individuals remain in the wildCritically Endangered
Sunda TigerLess than 400 leftCritically Endangered
Yangtze Finless PorpoiseBetween 1,000 and 1,800 finless porpoises leftCritically Endangered
Turtlei. 57,000 individuals left worldwide (Hawksbill turtle)

ii. less than 10 000 individuals left (Kemp’s Ridley and Flatback turtles)

i. Endangered

ii. Critically Endangered

Elephant40,000-50,000 left in wildEndangered

India’s Most Endangered Animals in 2022: 

Animals Number of Species leftStatus 
The Greater Adjutant Stork800-1200 remaining worldwideEndangered
Western Hoolock Gibbon10,000 gibbons are now left in IndiaEndangered
Lion-tailed Macaque2400-2500 are leftEndangered
Asiatic Lion674 lions currently living in Gir National ParkCritically Endangered
Kashmiri Red Stag237 Hangul leftCritically Endangered

Ways to Prevent Animal Extinction:

According to World Animal Foundation (WAF), animal extinction can be controlled by not buying Plastic Products, Protect Wildlife Habitats, limiting the Consumption of factories and more.

Note: In Russia, the largest number of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is concentrated in the region of the Caucasus, southern Siberia and the Far East (Amur-Heilong basin).

About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF):

World Wide Fund for Nature was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Carter Roberts
Headquarters- Gland, Switzerland
Establishment- 1961