Animals / Wildlife
wild lives, wild places
Wildlife and captive wild animals
Animals in their habitats, and those kept in zoos, sanctuaries, and similar settings.
Quick answer
Wildlife includes wild animals living in their habitats and those kept in captivity, such as in zoos and sanctuaries. WWF's 2024 Living Planet Report found that monitored wildlife populations fell by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2020, with habitat loss driven mainly by the food system as the most commonly reported threat.
Last reviewed . Sources are listed below.
the basics
What this area covers
Wild animals live in forests, grasslands, oceans, and cities. Some live in captivity, in zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and as exotic pets. Each setting raises different questions about freedom, wellbeing, and what we owe them.
At the Humane Choices Foundation (HCF), we explain how habitat loss and climate change affect wild animals, how captivity is regulated, and how sanctuaries differ from zoos. The pressure is real: monitored wildlife populations fell by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2020, and Canadian species assessed as at risk have declined by an average of 59% since 1970.
Around one million species are now threatened with extinction, according to a 2019 UN-backed global assessment. Much of that pressure comes back to how we use land and produce food, which is why we connect wildlife to the rest of our work.
dig in
Questions worth asking
Our guides on each question are being written. Every figure will come with a source.
- What is the difference between a sanctuary and a zoo?
- How do habitat loss and climate change affect wild animals?
- Should wild animals be kept in captivity, and who decides?
- What should you do if you find an injured wild animal?
follow the thread
How it connects
Wild animals feel the effects of almost every human choice. WWF names habitat loss, driven mainly by the food system, as the most commonly reported threat to wildlife, and a changing climate is reshaping the places animals can live.
Climate change
Warming temperatures shift habitats, seasons, and food supplies faster than many species can adapt.
Land and water use
Clearing land for food is the leading driver of habitat loss, according to WWF's 2024 Living Planet Report.
Social justice
Who gets a say over land and wildlife, and who bears the cost when habitats are lost, is a question of fairness.
by the numbers
What the evidence says
Every figure links to its source. See all of them on our facts and sources page.
73%
WWF, Living Planet Report 2024 (with the Zoological Society of London) 1970 to 2020
1 million
UN News, reporting the IPBES Global Assessment 2019 report
59%
CBC News, reporting WWF-Canada's Living Planet Report Canada 2020 2020 report
quick answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the Living Planet Index?
A measure, produced with the Zoological Society of London for WWF, of the average change in the size of monitored wildlife populations. It showed an average 73% decline from 1970 to 2020. It measures average population change, not the number of animals lost.
What is the biggest threat to wildlife?
According to WWF's 2024 report, habitat loss and degradation, driven mainly by the food system, is the most commonly reported threat.
What is the difference between a zoo and a sanctuary?
Definitions vary. Zoos generally keep animals for public display, education, and breeding programs, while sanctuaries generally provide lifelong care. Standards differ, so look for independent accreditation.
How many species are threatened with extinction?
The 2019 Global Assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) found that around one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.
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