The Endangered Species Coalition coordinates the annual Endangered Species Day.

Endangered Species Day

The 20th annual Endangered Species Day will take place on May 16, 2025.

Endangered Species Day 2025: May 16th

CELEBRATE SAVING SPECIES

Every year on the third Friday in May, thousands of people around the world participate in Endangered Species Day by celebrating, learning about, and taking action to protect threatened and endangered species. This global day of action and celebration was created and founded by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006, and has continued ever since.

On Endangered Species Day 2025, wildlife refuges, gardens, schools, libraries, museums, community groups, nonprofits, and individuals will hold special programs or events. People around the world participate in these activities and others. Join us in celebrating Endangered Species Day on Friday, May 16th and throughout the month of May!

Visit the Endangered Species Day website (www.endangeredspeciesday.org) for further news.

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Endangered Species Day Background

Until 2020, zoos, aquariums, museums, botanic gardens, wildlife refuges, wetlands, parks, schools, community centers and a wide variety of conservation groups celebrated by holding tours, exhibits, presentations, habitat restoration projects, and children’s programs on Endangered Species Day and throughout May.

Disney-ES Day Exhibit 100_0912

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, in 2020-2021 most of the activity was virtual-based. However, there was definitely a wide variety of educational and other programs for people to help recognize this important event.

Starting in 2022, Endangered Species Day began to resume a mix of actual/on-site programs and activities, and a series of virtual events.

To learn more about how you can be involved in Endangered Species Day activities in 2025 and find an event near you, visit www.endangeredspeciesday.org

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In The News

From the May 2019 issue of Ranger Rick Magazine

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Senate Resolution (2006)

Summary of the 2006 Senate Resolution that unanimously approved Endangered Species Day.

109th Congress, 2005–2006. Text as of Apr 05, 2006 (Resolution Agreed to).

SRES 431 ATS

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 431Designating May 11, 2006, as `Endangered Species Day’, and encouraging the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 5, 2006Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. CHAFEE, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. BYRD, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. REED, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. DODD, and Ms. SNOWE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION Designating May 11, 2006, as `Endangered Species Day’, and encouraging the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide.

Whereas in the United States and around the world, more than 1,000 species are officially designated as at risk of extinction and thousands more also face a heightened risk of extinction;

Whereas the actual and potential benefits derived from many species have not yet been fully discovered and would be permanently lost if not for conservation efforts;

Whereas recovery efforts for species such as the whooping crane, Kirtland’s warbler, the peregrine falcon, the gray wolf, the gray whale, the grizzly bear, and others have resulted in great improvements in the viability of such species;

Whereas saving a species requires a combination of sound research, careful coordination, and intensive management of conservation efforts, along with increased public awareness and education;

Whereas two-thirds of endangered or threatened species reside on private lands;

Whereas voluntary cooperative conservation programs have proven to be critical for habitat restoration and species recovery; and

Whereas education and increasing public awareness are the first steps in effectively informing the public about endangered species and species restoration efforts: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(1) designates May 11, 2006, as `Endangered Species Day’; and

(2) encourages–

(A) educational entities to spend at least 30 minutes on Endangered Species Day teaching and informing students about threats to, and the restoration of, endangered species around the world, including the essential role of private landowners and private stewardship to the protection and recovery of species;

(B) organizations, businesses, private landowners, and agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate on educational information for use in schools; and

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