Today is a global campaign to celebrate the importance of protecting the lion worldwide. World Lion Day is a day for raising awareness of the African and Asiatic lions so that the importance of more active conservation for the species is recognised worldwide.
The lion is of paramount importance not only for the ecosystem, but also for tourism that contributes significantly to Africa’s economy. The species population is disappearing rapidly from grasslands and savannahs across the country.
The IUCN has estimated that the current lion population in Africa to only have 23,000-39,000 individuals left, with lions being extinct across 26 African countries. They are currently classified ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN red list of threatened species. In West Africa, the lion numbers are as low as 1,500 and meet the criteria of being regionally ‘endangered’.
The reasons for the decline of the species population include, hunting, poaching, diseases, climate change, scarce numbers of prey and human-wildlife conflict due to the expansion of human populations and farming. Droughts force lions closer to watering holes that are closer to human settlements and the loss of habitats only increases risks of lions coming into conflict with humans, especially farmers. Lions are not only killed out of retaliation from farmers for killing their livestock, or out of fear, but were once killed for bravery rituals. Within the Maasai culture, for a teenage boy to become a warrior, he must fight and kill a lion. Until then, he would not be considered to be a man by his community. Lion hunting was an activity of the past and with the rise of lion conservation in the Maasai region, lion hunters have become lion guardians.
The lion symbol has been used since generation and over centuries by multiple cultures, religions, traditions and viewed as majestic, regal, protector, father, warrior, leader, defender and a soldier. The lion is also a symbol of power, courage, nobility and pride.
A story to demonstrates the characteristics that symbolise a lion, is the story of a pride of desert lions. An old lioness and her daughters were the key to the future of all desert lions and they gave birth to a total of five male cubs that are known today as the famous ‘Five Musketeers’. Their incredible journey and fight for survival in the harsh and extreme landscape of the ancient Namib Desert around Africa’s Skeleton Coast Park, was closely studied by scientist, Dr.Phillip Stander. Their story was captured on a documentary called the ‘Vanishing Kings of Namib’. Lions were thought to be extinct across the Namib desert and the story of the five male lion coalition uncovers what it takes to survive in this unforgiving landscape. They faced hardship, constant hunger, ever-lasting thirst and inevitable suffering, yet their courage and loyalty to one another kept them in the fight for survival.
This story holds an important life lesson for us all. Let’s reflect on the lion’s story and be inspired by their incredible strength through the many challenges they faced. Together we are facing a global pandemic and the effects of COVID-19 can be seen across the world. Our economies have crumbled, people are suffering and lives have been sadly lost.
Like the lions, we are all in the fight for survival.
It’s a time to come together and help each other find the courage that lies within us all.
Let today be the day we celebrate an incredible species and help us to find the lion that is inside all of us. Let the meaning of our name, ‘Ubuntu’ bring us all together so we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
Happy World Lion Day!
Resources
- Ontiri, EM, Odino, M, Kasanga, A, et al. Maasai pastoralists kill lions in retaliation for depredation of livestock by lions. People Nat. 2019; 1: 59– 69.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10
- IUCN Red List- Panthera leo- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15951/115130419
- Vanishing Kings- Lions of the Namib- https://www.vanishingkings.org/vanishing-kings-lions-the-namib/
