World Wildlife Day

The day's 2023 theme is "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation" and is a United Nations International Day.

“Papua New Guinea has some of the most spectacular and unique wildlife in the world, that is found nowhere else. And We are celebrating the strong partnerships with other NGOs around the world such as America's Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE campaigns, which stands for saving animals from extinction program, which help us in conserving PNG's unique tree kangaroos- we are thankful for these partnerships," said Dr Adrian Fowler, CEO of the Port Moresby Nature Park.

Internationally the theme is “Big cats: predators under threat", here in PNG, specifically Port Moresby’s Nature Park, the day was focused on conservation of unique local wildlife.

According to the United Nations website today should be an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora as well as to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people.

We are encouraged today to get children who are future leaders of wildlife conservation and inspire them to live in harmony with wildlife.

Nature Park gave these animals a voice yesterday at their event to recognise the World Wildlife Day.

On their poster were the words; Noken baim meat blo sikau.

The message stressed was not to encourage the idea of hunting to sell.

Shirley Mogi and education research officer with the Nature Park said the biggest threat today was of hunters hunting to sell at the markets.

She said in the past, hunting was for household consumption. Today however, the practise has changed as people are driven by money.

So yesterday, it was all about educating people on protecting the wildlife at Port Moresby Nature Park.

Recognising the World Wildlife day which falls on March 4, the park invited wildlife organisations to display products and do awareness.

At least 15 conservation organisations came out including ExxonMobil PNG, The Nature Conservancy, RSPCA of PNG, Wildlife Conservation Society and more.

Families turned up in numbers as the park came alive with many fun activities including face-painting to jumping castles for kids, filling crossword puzzles and many more.

This is the second consecutive year ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) has partnered with the Park to highlight World Wildlife Day.

Port Moresby Nature Park’s general manager, Michelle McGeorge, said: “ExxonMobil PNG is a major partner of the Nature Park, spanning over the last four years which has enabled us to achieve a great number of projects and we are really excited about how big this year’s World Wildlife Day is going to be, with over 18 conservation and Government organisations already confirmed.”

This will be the third year in a row that the event has been held at the Nature Park with this year’s theme ‘Listen to the Young Voices’. 

World Wildlife Day is an international day declared by the UN to celebrate and raise awareness on the world’s wildlife.