August 10 is World Lion Day

August 10 is World Lion Day and the WWF recalls that in Africa this big cat is the protagonist of a serious decline: in 20 years the number has almost halved. The environmental association lists ten things "to know" about this animal, "powerful, majestic and very sociable, one of the most iconic species of all".

NOT ONLY IN AFRICA. Most of the lions live in Africa, beyond the Sahara Desert, but there is also a small population of Asiatic lions that survive in India, in the Sasan-Gir National Park.

CHILDREN ARE BORN SPOTTED. At birth, lion cubs have small spots on their fur, which will then disappear as they become adults, to better hide in the vegetation while the mother is hunting.

THE WEIGHT OF LIONS. Male lions can weigh up to 190 kilos and females up to 130 in order to hunt even very large prey and to better defend the herd.

EVERY MANE HAS A STORY. The manes of lions all have a story: the older the lion, the thicker, darker and longer the manes become, a true symbol of power that females like so much. But the manes also serve to protect lions during fights, from bites and scratches.

BREEDING OF CHILDREN. Lion cubs are raised by a real “team. The herd consists of an adult male, some related females, with their cubs, and other males who serve to protect the herd. Lion mothers raise their young all together and if a cub needs milk he can go to any female who has it.

They can quench the plants. Over time, these large carnivores have become accustomed to living in places with even very difficult conditions, such as the Kalhari desert. When they are hungry and particularly thirsty, they can quench their thirst with desert gourds.

THEY ARE GREAT EATERS. In a single meal, lions can eat up to 40 kilos of meat, almost the equivalent of 1/4 of their body weight, their tongue is covered with pointed and sharp papillae, which are used to scrape the flesh off the bones. .

HUNT DURING STORM. Lions like to hunt at night, in the dark, because their eyes have adapted to see in the dark and this gives them a competitive edge over their prey.

These felines do not disdain to hunt during storms, because wind and noise take away their smells and noises, making hunting more effective.

THEY ROAR IN UNISON. Lions are the only felines that roar in unison. The roar serves to socialize but also to mark the territory, because it can be heard up to 8 kilometers away. Even the little ones join in the roar of the pack, doing their best to be part of the choir.

NOT MANY LIONS REMAIN IN AFRICA. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the last century we have lost 90% of the lion population that lived in Africa. Threatening them above all are poaching, the fact that lions are killed to protect livestock raised by humans, but also the disappearance of habitats and natural prey.

The WWF is doing everything possible for the future of lions on this continent, protecting their habitat and corridors of movement, studying and monitoring the herds, but above all working with local communities in order to find the best solutions for a possible coexistence with this. big predator. Each of us can help the WWF by supporting the Sos Leone campaign.