Conceived by conservationists Rae Kokeš and David Youldon, then both working for the conservation charity The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), with the launch event taking place in Livingstone, Zambia on August 10, 2013.
[1][2] Since that time, World Lion Day is now recognized by many wildlife organizations and celebrated annually across the globe.
[10] The first World Lion Day event was held on August 10, 2013.
[11] Since then it has been celebrated annually around the world through art, photography and cultural events with conservation and media organizations promoting events to support lion conservation efforts.
[12][13][14] The principal threats to lion populations include: habitat loss, indiscriminate killing (primarily in response to human-lion conflict), prey base depletion and poaching for parts.