Happy World Wildlife Day! Created by the United Nations, this annual celebration marks the anniversary of the enactment of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals around the globe. This year’s theme is “Life below water: for people and planet." Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge relies on the estuary islands that lie between the Farmington and Little Bassa rivers to provide a safe and naturalistic habitat for the more than 60 chimpanzees in our care. This incredible mangrove ecosystem, called the Marshall Wetlands, is teeming with life. In fact, mangroves are among the most important and productive ecosystems in the world. They are the only species of trees that can grow in salt water because they excrete the salt, which would otherwise be toxic, through their waxy leaves. Mangroves provide an intricate habitat that supports a lot of life above the water, but even more below. Thousands of fish, amphibians, and crustaceans thrive in mangrove ecosystems, especially during their juvenile stages of life. The complex root systems of mangroves trap large amounts of sediment, creating entire islands and protecting them from coastal erosion. We strongly advocate for sustainable practices in all mangrove habitats, as they are globally under threat due to the use of dynamite in fishing, uncontrolled harvesting of resources, and pollution. Join us in proudly celebrating World Wildlife Day and the life below water that’s vital to wellbeing of wildlife and humans alike! #WorldWildlifeDay