World Lion Day

In News

  • Every year on the 10th of August World Lion Day is celebrated annually throughout the world to raise awareness about the conservation of lions. 

About World Lion Day

  • In 2013, the first World Lion Day was observed.
  • It was co-founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert of the Big Cat Initiative and National Geographic in a partnership.
  • Major objectives:
    • To raise awareness about the plight of the lion & other issues that the species faces in the wild
    • To find ways to protect its natural habitat and for creating more such habitats like national parks
    • To educate people who live near wild cats on the dangers and how to protect themselves. 

About Lions

  • Scientific name: Lions, one of the largest animal species on earth are scientifically named ‘Panthera Leo’.
  • Historical Significance: They have an illustrious place in India’s history and culture, with their earliest known references found in the pillars of the Mauryan empire. The Indian national emblem is adorned by the majestic lion on all four sides.
  • IUCN Status: vulnerable 
    • Asiatic Lion: Endangered
      • The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) is presently found only in and around the Gir Forest in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat in western India
  • Role in the animal kingdom: Lions hold an indispensable place in the ecosystem, they are an apex predator of their habitat, responsible for checking the population of grazers, thus helping in maintaining the ecological balance.
  • Threats: Trophy hunting and  Loss of natural habitat
  • Conservation Efforts Taken
  • Project Lion: It was announced in August 2020 and modelled on Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
  • Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: It was launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • The lion census is conducted once every five years

Source:DTE

 
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