To celebrate the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2016 (WWD2016), the CITES Secretariat has launched a global poster design contest on the theme: “The future of wildlife is in our hands”. The focus of WWD2016 are African and Asian elephants. The theme of WWD2016 is a call to all citizens around the world to play a role in protecting the amazing wild animals and plants who share the planet with us. Habitat loss, climate change and poaching are among the most alarming challenges faced by wildlife today. Poaching and trafficking of ivory is now the most serious immediate threat to African elephants. Around 100,000 African elephants are estimated to be slaughtered in 3 years to feed the demand for ivory. Three winners will be provided free air tickets to attend the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP17) to be held from 24 September to 5 October 2016, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Read more about World Wildlife Day 2016 Poster Design Contest on Contest Watchers.