Wild Welfare comments on World Lion Day
This World Lion Day, Wild Welfare comments on this beautiful animal and how its numbers continue to decline in the wild in their thousands.
There are currently fewer than 20,000 lions remaining across the African continent. An iconic apex predator, it is itself falling prey, every day, to illegal poaching for body parts and the lion bone trade, to trophy hunting and to habitat loss. A CITES discussion taking place in September will consider whether to move African lions from Appendix II to Appendix I, in light of the severe decline.
The Asiatic lion is already an endangered species, with a population of only about 500, existing in the wild only in the Gir Forest in India’s Gujarat state.
Wild Welfare’s director Georgina Allen said: “We urge our supporters to use today to do their bit to help wild lion populations. You can support organisations and campaigns that are conserving wild lions and helping to tackle the reasons for their decline.
“This beautiful species joins an ever-increasing list of wild animals struggling to survive, as the human population grows and exerts its pressure. If everyone can use today to make their own small contribution to lion conservation, then we can have some hope that the species will survive.”
~ENDS~
Notes to Editors
For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org. Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare standards in captive wild animal facilities. Its mission is to partner with zoo associations, accredited zoos and aquariums, zoo professionals and leading international animal welfare organizations in identifying and improving the conditions of captive wild animals kept under circumstances of severe distress.
Wild Welfare was established in 2012 and has rapidly established itself as an internationally recognised hub in zoo animal welfare reform, forming effective collaborative relationships with a number of animal welfare NGOs, reputable universities and professional bodies.
Wild Welfare’s vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure that full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care.
Image © Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0
