Wildlife conservation is a practice in which people attempt to protect endangered plant and animal species, along with their habitats. The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy, and to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness lands to humans. Many nations have government agencies dedicated to wildlife conservation which help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife, and numerous independent nonprofit organizations also promote various wildlife conservation causes.

Numerous disciplines are involved in wildlife conservation. In order to practice wildlife conservation, people must use biology and other sciences to identify populations which are at risk, and to study those populations to learn more about their needs. Economics often becomes involved when organizations work to set land aside for the use of wildlife, with wildlife conservationists attempting to arrive at efficient land-use solutions. Wildlife conservation also relies heavily on education, using outreach programs to teach people about wildlife and to show people why conserving natural habitat is important.

Wildlife conservationists work all over the world to identify species which are in need of assistance and to protect them. This discipline often involves capturing animals and breeding them in captivity to ensure that the population remains large and diverse while conservationists work to establish territory for the animals so that they can have a safe place in the wild. The needs of wildlife conservation also need to be balanced with other desires, as many nations value forms of recreation in the wilderness like hiking, camping, and hunting, making it impossible to set aside land specifically for the use of animals.

A wide assortment of issues intersect with wildlife conservation. Establishing protected territories for animals might, for example, infringe on plans to use land for farming or housing. A wildlife park might also interfere with international borders, or traditional tribal lands. Problems like pollution, deforestation, overhunting, and other environmental issues also play a role in wildlife conservation. Despite the numerous barriers to conservation which must be overcome, many people that the fight to save wildlife and natural habitat is critical.

Many organizations which promote wildlife conservation use famous and photogenic animals like cheetahs, gray wolves, and elephants to promote their cause. By attracting people to the issue, these organizations hope to gather support and funds to protect animals which are less well-known, such as rare and endangered birds, small mammals, and reptiles. These animals also provide a rallying point and symbol for conservation.