We’ve all heard of the major national holidays, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, but did you know there are animal-themed holidays that celebrate our animal friends? These celebrated holidays slip quietly through the year without a lot of people even noticing. However, there are plenty of reasons why we should be spreading the word about these animal-themed holidays. With the number of extinct animals increasing daily, the importance of spreading the love of these animals has never been more important. So, here are 12 animal-themed holidays to mark on your calendar in 2020.
National Bird Day – January 5
National Bird Day celebrates the beauty, song, and flight of birds as well as their importance as indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
Nearly 12% of birds are endangered or threatened species. Parrots and songbirds are especially at risk, mostly due to loss of habitat and a reduction in food resources due to development within their natural habitats.
Nearly half a million people celebrate this holiday, annually by bird watching.
If you’re looking for a way to do more than watch and would like to interact with birds in a natural environment, free-flight aviaries are an excellent way to achieve this.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo, a zoo in Florida, has a large free-flight aviary where visitors can appreciate the wonderful species of birds up close. Visitors can feed the Australian budgerigars treat sticks and observe hundreds of birds soaring above naturally.
National Hippo Day – February 15
Held annually, National Hippo Day will be held on February 15 this year. Unfortunately, these animals are hunted for their skin, meat, and bones, and are considered by some as more valuable than elephants. With more and more farmers taking over their land, too, hippos are seeing a decline in numbers, causing them to land on the vulnerable species list. However, with this national holiday, people can be reminded just how special these animals are and why we should protect them at all costs.
Learn about Butterflies Day – March 14
Butterflies are one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth, so encourage your children to celebrate this national holiday. This will not only widen their education about why it’s crucial to save the butterflies, but it will also show them just what amazing creatures they are. This year, Learn about Butterflies Day lands on March 14 and there are several ways that you can celebrate butterfly day:
- Create a butterfly garden
- Get crafty and make a butterfly out of paper
- Make a butterfly treat for them
- And, of course, you can learn about butterflies. For example, did you know that a butterfly can travel up to 3,000 miles?
Save the Elephant Day – April 16
It is a sad fact, but elephants are one of the most endangered species of animals to walk the earth. The gentle and intelligent creatures are hunted down for their tusks and as a result, have seen a decline in their numbers. Save The Elephant Day was put in place to try and stop the statistic from getting any worse. The more awareness about elephants, the more likely we have a chance of saving this incredible animal.
World Bee Day – May 20
Bees are the reason why our trees are green and why our plants are full of life. The international holiday was created to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work that bees do for us, even if we don’t always notice it.
Hug your cat day – June 4
Celebrate your love for your furry feline friend on June 4 by hugging your cat. While you may provide your cat with love every day of the year, show them that extra bit of love next year and cuddle up with them on the couch.
World Snake Day – July 16
Despite the bad rep that snakes get, there is so much to celebrate about them. With only 3,458 species left in the world, the importance of celebrating this holiday needs to be made aware.
National Homeless Animals Day – August 17
First established by the International Society for animal rights, this day is about raising awareness of the growing problem of homeless animals. More than 2.7 million cats and dogs die every year because there aren’t enough adoptive homes for them. Therefore, the national holiday is trying to put a stop to this.
To help minimize the number of animals killed every year, you can do several things:
- Adopt
- Have your current pet spayed or neutered
Save the Koala Day – September 27
Just like many animals are experiencing, as human life expands, a koala’s home becomes smaller. We are slowly taking over the land that koalas call home, and it is starting to affect the population. To spread awareness about the adorable animal when September 27 rolls around, why not plant a tree, change your social media picture to a koala or pin a leaf to your outfit?
International Sloth day – October 20
Be sure not to miss out on International Sloth Day on October 20 next year. The adorable animals that are famous for being slow-moving and tree-dwelling have plenty to be celebrated about.
Jellyfish Day – November 3
While Jellyfish are not always favored by many, there are many reasons why you should celebrate Jellyfish Day on November 3. For example, did you know that despite the name, Jellyfish are not actually fish? As November 3 comes around, be sure to celebrate these animals and learn more about them.
Wildlife Conservation Day – December 4
Every December, Wildlife Conservation Day serves as a reminder that we need to preserve and protect wild animals and their habitats. The day seeks to raise awareness about the dangers that wild animals face, as well as shine a light on the efforts being made to lower human impacts on wildlife.