The World Wildlife Day will be observed today with a view to protect world biodiversity.

Bangladesh has taken various programmes to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.

The environment and forests ministry will observe the day with a theme to check poaching and trafficking of wild creatures.

The ministry and the forest department have organised a colourfill rally at 10:00am today. Discussions and a wildlife conservation fair will also be arranged to mark the day.

Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Monju will attend a discussion to be held at Osmani auditorium as the chief guest. Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique also will join the event as a special guest. Later, the wildlife conservation fair and a photography exhibition will also be inaugurated on the occasion.

Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon in a message urged all to end illegal wildlife trafficking and commit to trading and using wild plants and animals sustainably and equitably.

On December 20, 2013, the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim March 3, the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness on the world's wild fauna and flora.