Endangered Species Day is an occasion set aside globally for the commemoraThe tion of various animals which appear on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list and are in danger of becoming extinct if stern conservation measures are not implemented.
Observations of the day are done annually every Third Friday of May with this year’s observance slated for Friday 18 May.
Zimbabwe has rich biodiversity and, as a signatory to the Convention of Biological Diversity, it is Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s (ZimParks) mandate to continue promoting a suitable environment that supports biodiversity.
In Zimbabwe, the following animals are considered as specially protected species by the Parks and Wildlife Management Act’s Sixth Schedule; pangolin, roan, gemsbok, liechtenstein’s hartebeest, cheetah, python, black rhino, aardwolf, bat eared fox and painted dogs.
Specially Protected Animals
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Pangolin (Manis temmincki)
Painted dog (Lycaon pictus)
Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus)
In addition to legal protection, conservation efforts in Zimbabwe also focus on community engagement and education to promote coexistence between people and wildlife. By raising awareness about the importance of these specially protected animals and the role they play in the ecosystem, the hope is that their populations can recover and thrive in the wild for generations to come.
Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)
Roan (Hippotragus equinus)
Bat eared fox(Otocyon megalotis)
Lichtensteinʼs Hartbeest
(Alcelaphus Lichtensteini)
Square-lipped Rhino
(Ceratotherium simum)
Black Rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis)
Python (Python sebae)
These species are all facing threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict,
poaching, and their protection is crucial for their survival.