August 10th is International Lion Day, a holiday in honor of the King of Beasts, the Royal Hunter, the King of Jungle that inspires the respect and awe we all adore. There is no greater compliment than what compares you to a lion, right?
The holiday in honor of the most beautiful and scary creature in the animal kingdom was founded by the rescue organization Big Cat Rescue, which takes care of the rescue and well-being of big cats like tigers, lions, panthers, tigers and more.
Although the lion is such a powerful animal, it is also endangered and the number of lions in the wild is getting smaller every year. In the past there were lions in many parts of the world: in southern Europe, in large parts of Asia and in Africa. Today, there is a small population in Asia, with only a few hundred individuals, in a limestone forest in India, and in Africa there are only about 75,000 lions.
Unlike other animals that are hunted for meat, fur or fangs, the lions have people hunting just to show how brave they are. In 2015, an American hunter named Walter Palmer shot a lion known as Cecil, who was 13, who lives in the Huanga National Park in Zimbabwe. The lion Cecil (named after Cecil Rhodes, founder of Rhodesia), was named the king of the jungles of Zimbabwe. It was one of the most famous lions in Africa and was a tourist attraction. His killing provoked much outrage around the world.
In honor of International Lion Day, get some fascinating facts about the King of Beasts:
A male lion usually weighs more than 250 kg, but is still the second largest cat after the tiger.
The roar of the lion can be heard up to a distance of 8 km.
In the wild, male lions live 10 to 14 years.
The lioness performs 90% of the hunt.
All cats, from lions to domestic cats, do not feel sweet taste.
A porcupine can eliminate an entire flock of lions.
In 2005 a girl was brutally beaten in Ethiopia by 7 men who abducted her. A band of three lions came to her aid, drove the men away and chased after them. After that, the lions stayed with her until help came to her. (Source) The adult lion has no natural enemies and stands at the top of the food chain, next to the tiger. No animal dares to mess with the lion except the hyena, who sometimes allows himself to steal the lions' prey when they are not there and only the lionesses guard.
