World Lion Day on August 10 aims to raise awareness about the plight faced by lions. Scientifically known as ‘Panthero Leo,’ lions are one of the most well-known and popular animal species out there. They are called the ‘Kings of the Jungle’ due to their arresting and fearsome personalities created by their great bodies and heavy, shiny manes. A lion’s powerful roar is second to none, and it can be heard even five miles away. Owing to the pop culture icons like Simba from “The Lion King”, lions are also loved by children. However, while lions existed in large populations 100 years ago, today, their numbers are just below 50,000 worldwide as a result of poaching and hunting. World Lion Day, therefore, brings attention to this endangered species by raising funds and amping up protective measures.
History of World Lion Day
The first World Lion Day came into being in 2013. It was headed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a couple who are passionate about preservation and wild cats. After realizing that lion populations have drastically decreased worldwide, the Jouberts approached “National Geographic” for the brand’s help. Forming a partnership with them, the couple came up with the Big Cat Initiative (B.C.I.) in 2009. The B.C.I.’s main goal would be to protect and preserve the remaining lion species in the world. While aspects like deforestation, climate change, and human intervention may have impacted lion populations, studies have shown that their extremely low numbers may also have to do with ice ages and natural environmental disasters that have led them to becoming secluded in only a few countries of the world, namely India and South Africa. To date, the B.C.I. has made substantial leaps, from getting 150+ grant awards to reducing almost 3,000 threats to 3,000 wild cats to removing 13,000 life-threatening snares.
The lion comes from the ‘Felidae’ family of cats, and it is considered to be an apex predator. It is the second-largest cat weighing around 300 to 600 pounds, with the first being its cousin, the tiger. An average lion’s body is muscular with a short round head and ears, and a tufty tail. Its sex can be identified through its heavy and luscious mane, which are absent on lionesses. Lions also happen to be the only cats who roam around in large groups known as prides. Scientists believe that lions do so because it is easier to catch prey in the wild. Their natural habitats are savannas and grasslands. You will most likely find a pride of lions near water bodies as they strategically wait for prey to come there for a drink and then pounce on them.
World Lion Day timeline
1758 ‘Felis Leo’ is Coined
Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish zoologist and botanist, invents ‘Felis Leo’ as the scientific name of lions.
1996 Vulnerable Species
The lion is placed on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its African population decreasing by 45% since 1990.
2009 Big Cat Initiative is Formed
Dereck and Beverly Joubert, in partnership with “National Geographic”, start the Big Cat Initiative to save lions.
2013 The First World Lion Day
The B.C.I. announces the first World Lion Day in order to include the world in lion preservation efforts.
How to Observe World Lion Day
Vow to protect lions
Refuse to buy lion products
Donate your assets
No matter how you choose to spend the day, make sure it is worthwhile by vowing to protect lions. Lions are natural predators that are necessary to keep prey populations in check. Apart from such environmental benefits, lions are extremely beautiful and majestic animals that have ruled the pop culture scene for a long time. So, let’s take a vow to be there for them.
Whether you are looking to buy a new bag or coat, or any other similar paraphernalia, make sure you know where it is coming from. Refuse to buy lion products (or other animal skin products) to reduce sales and market value.
Time and money are the most valuable assets you can give in today’s world. Look out for national and international organizations that protect wild cats, and invest in them by donating your money to the cause. If you cannot donate, you can volunteer your time by either helping the organizations with volunteer work or by promoting the organizations in your circles.
5 Facts About Lions That Will Blow Your Mind
Younglings have spots on their skin
Manes change over time
Cubs are raised together
Females are mightier hunters
Heavy and long sleepers
Young lion cubs are born with spots on their coats, but these tend to fade away as they grow older.
A lion’s mane will change color, going from light to dark, as it grows older.
Lion cubs are generally brought up together by all the females in a pride.
Lionesses are better hunters than their male counterparts, and it is for this reason that they hunt 80% to 90% of the time.
Lions will sleep for at least 20 hours a day.
Why World Lion Day is Important
It’s a celebration of lions
It’s a reminder about the importance of preservation
It’s a celebration of the natural environment
For most of us, “The Lion King” was a huge part of our childhood. We rejoiced at the birth of Simba but also grieved with him over his father’s death. Holding such sweet memories and images, we cannot let the beloved animal go extinct. Let’s come together on August 10 to protect lions from all dangers.
Preservation has become a necessity, more now than ever. We cannot hope to live on a peaceful and resourceful Earth if we keep depleting it of its natural resources, be it water, fuel, or animals. We must preserve and protect the Earth for ourselves as well as future generations.
The natural environment has given us countless gifts. From food for taste and survival to medicinal properties to inspiration for technological inventions, nature has continued to reward us since time immemorial. We must therefore honor, respect, and celebrate it.
An adult male lion snarls at a Barafu female in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania in this image from our archives
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World Lion Day on August 10 aims to raise awareness about the plight faced by lions.
Scientifically known as ‘Panthero Leo,’ lions are one of the most well-known and popular animal species out there.
They are called the ‘Kings of the Jungle’ due to their arresting and fearsome personalities created by their great bodies and heavy, shiny manes.
A lion’s powerful roar is second to none, and it can be heard even five miles away. Owing to the pop culture icons like Simba from “The Lion King,” lions are also loved by children.
However, while lions existed in large populations 100 years ago, today, their numbers are just below 50,000 worldwide as a result of poaching and hunting.
World Lion Day, therefore, brings attention to this endangered species by raising funds and amping up protective measures.
Lion build by LEGO artist Sean Kenney, photographed at a 2019 exhibition at Liberty Science Center.
“It was important to Sean to get the expression of the lion just right. In order to do so, he studied lots of photos and videos of real lions. Color was tricky with the lion's eyes. Sean settled on a hard-to-find golden colored radar dish as the iris of the eye, which perfectly mirrors the cool, golden gaze of the real thing.”
Silver necklace created after the pewter lion (below) that was designed in 1926 by Anna Petrus, an artist recognised for her lion sculptures and reliefs. She created the lion with inspiration from the Far East.
This celebration was founded by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats.
Even though they are sometimes referred to as the 'king of the jungle', lions are under grave threat due to a number of man-made issues, including poaching and deforestation. The lion population is rapidly declining. Therefore to spread awareness about the lions and the issues faced by them World Lion Day is observed on August 10 every year.
Lion numbers have dramatically declined to the point where the species needs to be placed on the endangered list, just like its larger cousin the tiger.
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.
Over the course of five decades, the global lion population has decreased by about 90%.
The threats against lions are many: they face the dual specters of increasingly popular “trophy hunting” and human incursion on their traditional wildlands. A reduction in food combined with hunting tourism is making them more vulnerable with every passing year.
Raise awareness on Lion Day and the issues that the species faces in the wild, share photos of this big cat with your friends, support the protection of natural habitats.
Facts about lions
• While female lions perform the majority of the hunting, male lions guard the pride's territory. Nevertheless, the males always eat first.
• The most social of all the big cats, African lions live in packs called 'prides'. About 15 lions make up a pride.
• While a lion can run at 50 mph for short distances and leap 36 feet, its roar can be heard up to five miles away.
• The colour of a male lion's mane is a reliable indicator of his age. The older the lion, the darker his mane.
• Lions are the second-largest cat in the world, just behind the Asian tiger.
• Lions are typically found in grasslands and plains rather than the forests.
happy world lion day to my favorite animal! i’m so glad there’s a whole day to celebrate this absolutely incredible species :D lions are one of the most crucial animals in their ecosystems in both africa and india, and their social interactions are truly unique and fascinating. sadly, only around 20,000 lions remain, immeasurably fewer than their historical numbers. check out panthera, kopelion, ewaso lions, lion guardians, and other organizations to help save these extraordinary cats 🤍🦁also, i highly recommend the book “the lion: behavior, ecology and conservation of an iconic species” by craig packer. it’s an amazing book that dives deep into every aspect of lion life. here’s some cool lion clips :)