World Lion Day is observed annually on 10th of August annually and it is dedicated to these big cats and also raise awareness regarding the plight faced by these incredible species today.
When we talk of a jungle safari then most people can't imagine it without lions that's how popular and famous it is! Ther are ome of the most charismatic wild animals out there in our wildlife. However they also face a threat of extinction which needs to be addressed.
Lions belongs to the 'Felidae' family of the cats and they are an apes predator species and their scientific name is 'Panthera Leo'.
| Event | World Lion Day |
|---|---|
| Date | August 10, 2022 |
| Day | Wednesday |
| Significance | raises awareness about the Big Cat, an vulnerable species |
| Observed by | World wide |
World Lion Day History:
For the first time the World Lion Day was observed in 2013 amd it was headed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a very passionate couple regarding the preservation of wild cats.
As after knowing of the fact that the world lions population have been reduced drastically in the recent centuries the anxious Jouberts went to the 'National Geographic' for help into it. And this they formed a partnership with them and as a result came up with the Big Cat Initiative(B.C.I.) in 2009. The primary aim of this initiative was to preserve these Wildcats and prevent them from going extinct.
And they are not wrong too as just some 100 years ago there was a very large population of lions available in the world but today they have been drastically reduced and numbers around just below 50,000 in the world and there are many reasons behind their low numbers today which are hunting, destruction of their natural habitats, deforestation, loose protection in wildlife zones, diseases are some of the primary reasons.
Lions have been living on this planet since a very long time and as a human species we have already failed in preserving many animal species earlier so we couldn't let loose lions also this time.
World Lion Day Significance:
Lions are one of the most popular big cats species around the world. They are also referred as the king of the jungle by many and that's why they are often compared with their cousins tigers about who should be the real king of the jungle. Well if we see by statistics then lions are the 2nd largest big cat species of the world after the tigers. However there are many factors too where lion is ahead, however let's just leave this debate for now as according to many both have their own specialities and can't be compared unless they really fights with each other but that rarely happens.
Well back to lions, actually lions are still available in more numbers than their cousins tigers however we have seen recently tiger population rising but on the other hand lions population continues to decrease worldwide especially in Africa where lions are mostly located.
Lions have also been popularized and romanticized throughout our media as well as there are many books based on lions. However the most remarkable character would be of Simba from 'The Lion King' movie which is most popular lion character.
So there is a urgent need to address this issue of conservation of lions as so far governments have unable to stop poaching and hunting related to it although there are many NGOs and various organizations which are working towards it and they must be supported by both the government and the people and for that the first step is raising awareness among the masses.
Lions are very important in preserving our ecosystem too as they helps in controlling the population of various wild animals like deers and other similar animals so that the world is saved from their overpopulation and we must have to preserve this beautiful creature so that our coming generations also get to view this fascinating creature.
World Lion Day Facts:
Now let's learn some fascinating facts about our king of the jungle none other than lion:
- Lions are the most sociable among all the cats.
- Lions can go upto four days without drinking water but they have yo eat every day.
- Female lions do most of the hunting among lions, they are small and agile so this also helps them.
- Lions does not necessary lives in jungle as their primary habitats are grasslands and plains.
- Lions once existed in Europe too however they are now primarily available in Africa only.
Most Searched FAQs on World Lion Day:
1. When is World Lion Day is celebrated?
World Lion Day is celebrated annually on 10th of August worldwide.
2. What is the scientific name of lion?
The scientific name of lion is 'Pamthera Leo'.
3. Which country has the most lions?
Tanzania is believed to have the most lions in the world.