Friday, the 10^th annual national Endangered Species Day will be celebrated.

The celebration will include special events and programs that recognize the nation’s efforts to conserve and protest America’s most imperiled species. The day was created in 2006 by the U.S. Senate and features a celebration of not only endangered animals, but also imperiled plants and wild places, with an emphasis on success stories of species recovery.

The Endangered Species Act, co-administered by the Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, serves to conserve these species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Since its inception, the Act has prevented hundreds of listed species from going extinct.

Endangered Species Day will also include national wildlife refuges, parks, botanical gardens, schools, libraries, museums, community groups and conservation organizations holding various activities Friday and throughout the month. This year’s events range throughout the country and include the Endangered Species Day festival at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., events at iconic parks throughout the country like Yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks, habitat restoration projects in California, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado and Wisconsin and special programs at more than 100 zoos and aquariums across the country.

According to the Smithsonian’s website, the Top 10 most endangered species in North America include Oahu Tree Snails, Red Wolf, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, California Condor, Vancouver Island Marmot, Giant Sea Bass, Rabb’s Fringe-Limbed Treefrog, Pygmy Raccoon, Staghorn Coral and Franklin’s Bumblebee.

It is very imperative to these plants, animals, wild areas and others that awareness be raised among humanity to ensure protection and continued existence of these species. Endangered Species Day also honors those who uphold the legacy of the Act while encouraging the next generation of conservation leaders to get involved in the protection of these species. Not only is the knowledge of how to protect endangered species important, but the desire and inspiration to do so is also important.

Friday through Sunday, Sylvan Heights Bird Park, 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, Scotland Neck, will host a celebration of Endangered Species Day with a free guide to the 18 endangered species on exhibit at the park. The event is free with park admission. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, 374 Airport Rd., Manteo, will also host a celebration, as well, highlighting local endangered species through videos, live animal programs and games.

For more information about Endangered Species Day, including a list of events occurring throughout the nation, visit www.endangeredspeciesday.org.