World Lion Day is annually observed across the globe on August 10 to raise awareness about Lion (Panthera Leo) and highlight their conservation issues and promote efforts to protect lions.
- Aim : To educate people about the challenges faced by lions and celebrate their vital role in ecosystems and cultural heritage across the world.
Background:
i.World Lion Day was initiated by Big Cat Rescue (BCR), a wildlife sanctuary in Florida, the United States of America(USA) dedicated to lions and was co-founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
- The first World Lion Day was observed in 2013.
ii.In 2009, they approached ‘National Geographic’ and formed a partnership to create the Big Cat Initiative (BCI).
About Lion:
i.Lion is also known as the ‘King of the Jungle’. It is the second-largest cat in the world, just behind the Asian tiger.
ii.It is the symbol of strength and courage and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature.
iii.It is a social animals and live in groups called prides.
iv.The three of the five largest lion populations can be found in Tanzania.
Types of Lion Species:
There are two formally recognised lion subspecies:
1.The African Lion (Panthera leo leo) is found in the Sub-Saharan African region.
2.The Asiatic Lion (Indian Lion) (Panthera leo persica) is found only in the Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat (India).
Note: The International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) categorised Panthera leo as ‘Vulnerable’ and Panthera leo persica as ‘Endangered’.
Lion Population:
i.The IUCN estimates that between 23,000 to 39,000 lions remain in the wild. However, other conservation groups have placed estimates closer to only 20,000.
ii.In 2015, there were an estimated 523 lions in the Gir Forest (India), but this number increased to 674 in 2020.
Threats faced by Lions:
Human-wildlife conflict and natural prey decline, habitat loss, climate change and wildlife trade are the threats faced by the lions.
Conservation Initiatives of India:
i.Project Lion: It is a pivotal initiative launched on August 15, 2020, aimed at securing the future of Asiatic lions through comprehensive, long-term conservation efforts.
ii.The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: It is an initiative by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), which was approved for the fiscal years 2018-2021, focusing on the critically endangered Asiatic Lion in the Gir landscape.
iii.These are the two major initiatives taken by India to protect its lion population to achieve ‘Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrutkal’.
Global Initiative:
International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) was launched in April 2023, aims to foster international cooperation among 97 countries to strengthen global efforts in conserving big cats, including lions.
Advanced Technologies in Lion Conservation:
Information and Communication Technology (ICT): It contributes significantly to the conservation, protection, and development initiatives of the Greater Gir Region.
- The use of advanced ICT includes Global Positioning System (GPS)-Based Tracking, Automated Sensor Grid, Night Vision Capabilities and Geographic Information System (GIS)-Based Real-Time Monitoring.
