Today, we invite you to celebrate one of the most majestic species to walk the earth. It’s World Lion Day! Each year on August 10, lion lover’s around the globe use this day to bring awareness to the declining population of lions. Furthermore, we suggest learning about ways to help the preservation of lion habitats, as well.
The lion species, also known as Panthera leo, is one of the largest species on earth. Typically weighing 300 to 550 pounds, the lion can vary from a light buff color to a deep reddish-brown color. Surprisingly, there is also the rare white lion found in the wild. Easily recognized by its thick mane, the lion is also muscular and has a loud, deafening roar. Unfortunately, as majestic lions may seem, they are slowly disappearing.
As far back as 3 million years ago, lions roamed freely across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Today, loins are live freely in their natural habitat in only two locations, Africa and Asia. In addition, some lions are bred in captivity.
Lions are listed as a vulnerable species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Though they are not under the classification of an endangered species, they still face obstacles that endanger their survival.
Currently, there are about 30,000 to 100,000 lions left on earth. In the past few decades, lion populations have decreased almost by half. Trophy hunting and loss of natural habitat are the primary reasons for the diminishing lion population.
History of World Lion Day
This celebration of the fearsome animal was established by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s biggest licensed safe-haven devoted to large felines. August tenth is a day for individuals to meet up from across the world to honor the strong lion from numerous points of view as could really be expected. However a fun and invigorating event for every one of, its establishments are situated in an intense matter: lion numbers have drastically declined to where the species should be put on the jeopardized list, very much like its bigger cousin the tiger.
World Lion Day is the brainchild of fellow benefactors Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a couple of groups with an enthusiasm for enormous felines. They started the drive in 2013, uniting both National Geographic and the Big Cat Initiative under a solitary standard to secure the leftover huge felines living in nature.
Lions – with the scientific name Panthera leo – are the second-largest cat in the world, just behind the Asian tiger. These immense creatures, weighing between 300 and 550 pounds, have sparked the popular imagination for centuries, inspiring awe through their speed and muscular power.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, lions are a “vulnerable” species, meaning that their numbers could and should be higher. Currently, researchers estimate that there are between 30,000 and 100,000 lions left on planet Earth. Without significant intervention, there is a chance that they could find themselves on the endangered list alongside other species most at risk of extinction.
World Lion Day, therefore, is an opportunity for lion lovers all over the planet to push back against the decline in the range and habitat of the king of beasts. These giant animals are among the world’s largest land species and apex predators with a reputation like no other. It would be a tragic loss for both nature and humanity if the species were to disappear entirely from the natural environment.
World Lion Day, therefore, has three objectives. The first is to raise awareness of the plight of the lion and the issues that the species faces in the wild. The second is to find ways to protect the big cat’s natural environment, such as creating more national parks and reducing the areas in which people can settle. And the third is to educate people who live near wild cats on the dangers and how to protect themselves. Humans and large species like cats can live in harmony together, but only if they understand how to do so.
