Italian
Celebrated worldwide as a symbol of strength and royalty, the lion’s population has declined by 90% over the last 50 years. Calls for the protection and conservation of biodiversity
ITALY – The lion, an icon of power and majesty, protagonist of myths, coats of arms and fairy tales, is today one of the species most threatened by climate change, habitat loss and poaching. In order to raise public awareness and promote the protection of this extraordinary feline, World Lion Day is celebrated every year on 10 August.
The initiative, launched in 2013 by a group of South African environmentalists, is now recognised globally by numerous environmental organisations and zoos committed to wildlife conservation. The goal is clear: to save the king of the savannah from extinction.
According to the latest data from the WWF and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the lion population in Africa has declined by about 90% over the last half-century. While there were over 200,000 lions at the beginning of the 20th century, today there are fewer than 20,000 left in the wild, spread across increasingly fragmented and vulnerable areas.
Among the main causes of their disappearance are poaching, legal sport hunting in some African countries, the destruction of their natural habitat to make way for crops and livestock, but also conflicts with local communities, who often consider lions a danger to livestock.
On this day, many environmental associations promote events, online initiatives, fundraisers and educational activities for children and adults. The invitation is to reflect on the role of humans in nature conservation, support biodiversity protection projects and combat all forms of illegal exploitation of wildlife.
‘Defending lions means protecting the balance of African ecosystems, but also remembering that respect for animals is an integral part of our responsibility towards the planet,’ reads the message released by Lion Guardians, one of the most active NGOs in the protection of this feline.
For those who wish to contribute, it is possible to symbolically adopt a lion through WWF campaigns, or support nature parks and projects promoting coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
