What day is it?

Modern world society often celebrates holidays dedicated to wild animals that need human protection due to the threat of complete disappearance from the face of the Earth. Many such holidays are little known to the general public. Example, World Lion Day, which falls on August 10. In 2022, the world community will celebrate this day on Wednesday. The purpose of the holiday is to spread knowledge about the problems faced by representatives of this species of felines, as well as to offer ways to solve them.

How did the idea to celebrate World Lion Day come about?

Why exactly August 10, as well as who and when decided to celebrate this day, is not known for sure. However, we know that these animals have been feared and revered since time immemorial. It is not for nothing that this animal is called the king of beasts. People who wanted to show off their power, courage and wealth kept these animals in captivity. The first slave lions are mentioned in the documents of Ancient Assyria, dated to 800 BC.

Lions could often be seen at the court of Alexander the Great. These animals were brought here from Northern India for gladiator fights. Wealthy people of the Far East also liked to show off the presence of this predatory animal. The royal persons of many European countries were not far behind them. Here, these exotic animals were considered a real decoration.

At the beginning of the 17th century, lions began to appear in the collections of large zoos in Europe. Later, in parallel with the slave trade, the lion trade also began to flourish. In the 19th century, these royal animals became a cheap commodity that could be purchased at one of the many markets. Lions were supplied in large quantities from Africa, many of them perished during sea transportation.

Modern problems of wild animals

Every year on August 10, various actions are held around the world to draw the attention of the world community to the problems faced by these fragile and at the same time powerful predators. Few people know what serious danger threatens their existence.

Today, most lions can be found in the southern part of Africa, as well as on the territory of India. Scientists claim that over the past 20 years, the population of these predators has declined sharply. If back in the 70s of the 20th century there were about 100,000 of them, by 2005 this number had halved. The reasons for the extinction of the lion population are not new and are consistent with those that threaten the lives of other animals. This is also an anthropogenic influence – human activity that negatively affects the preservation of the habitats of these animals. As well as natural disasters and climate change.

It is worth noting that certain species of these predators are geographically isolated. This is when one population is separated from others by a long distance or other geographical barrier. This is the reason that the genetic diversity of lions is significantly reduced. That is why the international organization – “Union for the Protection of Nature” – classified lions as particularly vulnerable wild animals.

People have fought with lions since time immemorial, conquering territory. Vast lands, which until recently these animals considered their home, are turning into agricultural land, on which cereals and vegetables are grown, cattle are grazed, etc. In addition, poaching is flourishing, which is having a detrimental effect on an already depleted population.

Today, lions from Asia and Africa are kept in national parks, zoos, zoo collections on the territory of special reserves. Animals grow and reproduce in captivity under the close supervision of zoologists.

Interesting facts about lions

• A male lion can eat about 7 kg of meat per day, while 5 kg is enough for a female.
• The lion emits a characteristic roaring sound that can be heard at a distance of 7-9 km.
• Few people know, but lions can be classified as lazy animals, as they sleep up to 20 hours a day.
• A lion is a fairly fast animal, the maximum speed they can develop is 80 kilometers per hour. However, they cannot run at this speed for a long time.
• Jumping is another weakness of lions, they can jump over 10 m without much effort.
• Lions are social animals, they live in prides (packs), which consist of 12-15 animals. In prides, males defend the territory, while females hunt for prey and raise their offspring. Despite the fact that females are the main hunters, males always start the meal first.
• Giant cats are quite heavy, so some males can weigh up to 350 kg. At the same time, lions have the smallest heart and brains, if we compare them with other predators of Africa.

How to celebrate World Lion Day?

This date is especially loudly celebrated in the countries of Africa and Asia, where these animals live. Educational tours and free excursions are organized on World Lion Day. A vivid example is the celebration in Malawi Park, where visitors are offered to observe the life of a lion pride. In some African countries, for example, in Zambia, loud costume carnivals dedicated to the king of beasts are held. People dress up in animal costumes and have fun throughout the day. Also on this day, charity actions in favor of lions are quite apt, such actions are quite popular in Botswana.

If you are unlucky on World Lion Day visiting one of the African countries is not a problem. You can visit the local zoo, but first you should learn more about these predators. For this purpose, you can read an encyclopedia or watch a documentary about these majestic animals. You can also share the event on social networks, take a photo in the park with a lion, transfer funds to the account of a charity organization involved in the rescue of wild animals.

When will we celebrate World Lion Day??