August 10: World Lion Day, International Biodiesel Day
Kyiv • UNN
August 10 is World Lion Day. The population of these animals has declined from 400,000 in the mid-twentieth century to 45,000 today due to climate change, disease, and habitat loss.
Today, on August 10, animal rights activists and wildlife lovers in many countries of the world can join the events on the occasion of World Lion Day, UNN writes.
Since the mid-twentieth century, the lion population on the planet has been steadily declining.
According to animal rights activists, at that time there were about 400 thousand lions on Earth. By the 1970s, the population of these animals had dropped to 100,000, and now it does not exceed 45,000.
The main reasons for the decline in the lion population are climate change, disease, and loss of habitat due to human activity.
Another factor contributing to the decline in the lion population is that many of their prides are geographically isolated, leading to a reduction in genetic diversity. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has recognized lions as a vulnerable species.
A male lion can eat seven kilograms of meat in a day, while a female can eat five kilograms. The lion can easily accelerate to 80 kilometers per hour, but cannot run at this speed for a long time. A lion can jump up to ten meters in length.
Lions can sleep for 20 hours a day.
August 10 is also International Biodiesel Day. It was on August 10, 1893, that German engineer and inventor Rudolf Diesel demonstrated an engine that ran on peanut oil fuel.
At the time, however, this idea remained at the level of a bold experiment. However, over the years, the idea of producing environmentally friendly fuels has become increasingly popular.
Currently, biodiesel is made from coconut, castor, and palm oil, soybeans, and rapeseed. In some countries, animal and fish oil is used for production. But algae is the most promising type of eco-friendly fuel.
The production of biofuels is regulated in 48 countries.
According to the church calendar, today is the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyr Lawrence, who lived in the third century.
Lawrence was an associate of Pope Sixtus II. During the intensification of the persecution of Christians, on the orders of Emperor Valerian, Sixtus II and people from his inner circle were arrested.
Lavrentiy was responsible for the church property, which he was ordered to hand over to the authorities. The priest refused and gave everything away to poor people. This angered the emperor, and for such a bold act, Lawrence was tortured for a long time and then executed.
Lavrentiy and Roman celebrate their name days on August 10.
