The 10th of August has been designated World Lion Day; “An independant campaign working to highlight the importance of the lion globally and to raise lion conservation awareness worldwide“.
These regal creatures are under immense threat, highlighted by the recent “hunting” of Cecil, a Zimbabwean lion known around the world and one of the subjects of a lion research project that’s been running for many years. Sadly, Cecil’s death was not an isolated incident and many more of his species die in this fashion daily. Hopefully, the quite justified uproar over the killing of this specific individual will result in change for the better, ensuring a brighter future for Africa’s biggest cat.
It will be a sad day indeed when the lion’s roar no longer rumbles across Africa’s wild places.
Last year we dedicated a special blogpost to the lion on World Lion Day.
DeWetsWild 
Thank you for your post. It’s good to stir attention. I found an informative site (I hope you don’t mind my posting it here): http://m.livescience.com/41572-male-lion-survival.html It mentions survival threats to lions, including how they fall prey to wire snare traps. Do you know if this is among the concerns being discussed?
I hope to hear of progress in turning around the worrisome trends that lions are facing.
Thank you for the link and the kind contribution, Marso. Welcome also!
Indeed, wire snares are a huge problem to all wildlife, as they maim and kill so indiscriminately and so very, very cruel.
Lions are such majestic creatures it is easier to raise sympathy for them. Unfortunately many other less popular species are also endangered, while nobody cares.
That’s very true Colonialist!
Hopefully bringing attention to the plight of the charismatic animals’ like lions, elephants and rhinos, will ensure their habitats are better protected, which will also then benefit the smaller animals that are struggling due to poaching and wildlife trafficking, like pangolins, tortoises and chameleons.
And you’re not lyin’. 🙂 Thanks for sharing both information and photos.
janet
Thanks very much for the support, Janet!
Interessant dat hierdie storie meer opspraak verwek het as die dood van die legendariese Terrace Male,wat ook doodgeskiet is.Het jy al die pragtige video “Vanishing Kings” gesien? Dis so ‘n maand gelede vrygestel en dis ‘n film,gemaak deur ‘n SA paartjie.Hulle het twee jaar lank die legendariese Flip Stander gevolg en hierdie ongelooflike film geskiet.Dis absoluut fantasties,maar baie hartseer.
Ek onthou die geval van die bekende skedelkus-mannetjie, Dina. Die doodmaak van so n manjifieke dier vir “sport” maak net eenvoudig nie sin nie.
Het nog nie film gesien nie, maar sal uitkyk daarvoor dankie!
Ons was in Swakopmund by die gala aand van die film.Die twee Steenkamps wat die film gemaak het en Flip Stander was ook daar.Daar was ‘n reuse opkoms.Hulle het dit nie verwag nie.Die film is vertaal in Afrikaans en Damara ook en hulle het ‘n hele toer deur die land waar hulle dit veral vir die plaaslike bevolking wys.Dis juis konflik tussen veeboere en wildlewe,wat die leeu se dood veroorsaak het.Dis op grondvlak waar opvoeding begin.
Hy is darem nie doodgemaak vir die sport nie.Die plaaslike bevolking was bang hy vang hul beeste.
Dit maak dit seker effens meer verstaanbaar, en dalk daarom dat dit nie so baie aandag getrek het nie. Dankie dat jy my reggehelp het, Dina!