Italian
Celebrated worldwide, the feline symbol of strength and royalty: in the last 50 years, its population has decreased by 90%. Appeals for the protection and conservation of biodiversity
ITALY – The lion, an icon of power and majesty, protagonist of myths, coats of arms, and tales, is today one of the species most threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and poaching. To raise public awareness and promote the conservation of this extraordinary feline, every year on August 10 the World Lion Day is celebrated.
The initiative, born in 2013 at the behest of some South African environmentalists, is now globally recognized by numerous environmental organizations and zoos committed to wildlife conservation. The goal is clear: save the king of the savanna from extinction.
According to the latest data from WWF and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the lion population in Africa has decreased by about 90% in the last half century. While there were over 200,000 lions at the beginning of the twentieth century, today fewer than 20,000 remain in the wild, distributed across increasingly fragmented and vulnerable areas.
Among the main causes of their disappearance are poaching, legal sport hunting in some African countries, destruction of natural habitat to make way for farming and livestock, but also conflicts with local communities, which often see the lion as a threat to livestock.
On this day, many environmental associations promote events, online initiatives, fundraising, and educational activities for children and adults. The invitation is to reflect on the role of humans in the conservation of nature, support biodiversity protection projects, and combat all forms of illegal exploitation of wildlife.
“Defending the lion 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 natural parks and projects for coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
