World Lion Day 2022: Every year on August 10th, World Lion Day is observed to raise awareness about these majestic and royal creatures and to garner support for their protection and conservation. World Lion Day enables us to learn more about the lions' role in the ecological cycle and why their extinction can be a warning sign for humans.
World Lion Day: History
The global population of Lions has declined by approximately 80% in the last century. Conserving and preserving this species of big cats, as well as raising awareness about their conservation, resulted in the establishment of this day in 2013. Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a couple who are enthusiastic about conservation and wild cats, served as its leaders.
They contacted "National Geographic" for assistance, after learning that lion populations have drastically decreased throughout the world.
In 2009, the couple created the Big Cat Initiative (BCI) in collaboration with them. The BCI's primary objective would be to safeguard and maintain the world's remaining lion species.
While deforestation, climate change, and human intervention may have had an impact on lion populations, studies have shown that their extremely low numbers may also be due to ice ages and natural environmental disasters that have forced them to become confined to only a few countries around the world, namely India and South Africa.
To date, the BCI has made significant strides, including receiving more than 150 grant awards, reducing nearly 3,000 threats to 3,000 wild cats, and removing 13,000 life-threatening snares.
World Lion Day: Significance
The lion is currently listed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
This day is observed to recognise the importance of the animal for the environment and ecosystem and the rapid decline in lion populations that had occurred throughout the world.
Lions are the top predators in their environment, regulating the population of browsers and grazers and thus aiding in the maintenance of ecological balance.
Lions also keep their prey population healthy and robust by targeting the weakest members of the herd, indirectly aiding in disease control in the prey population. Their preservation also aids in the protection of natural forest areas and habitats, which aids in biodiversity management.
Population Of Lions In India
The Asiatic Lion, along with the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Clouded Leopard, and Snow Leopard, is one of India's five big cats.
The number of wild lions has drastically decreased across the globe, with the exception of Africa. But, the large animals have naturally settled in India. It's interesting to note that lion populations have steadily increased in India, especially in Gir Forest, which is home to the only wild population of lions outside of Africa.
After a protracted period of decline, the number of Asiatic lions has steadily increased in Gujarat's Gir forest and the larger Saurashtra protected area. Their population increased from 523 to 674 between 2015 and 2020.
The Asiatic lions of India are distantly related to the much larger African lions.