International Orangutan Day, World Humanitarian Day, Beekeeper's Day in Ukraine. What else can be celebrated on August 19

Today, on August 19, animal rights activists and wildlife lovers in many countries of the world can join the event dedicated to great apes - the International Orangutan Day, UNN reports.

Orangutans live only on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Due to human destruction of the natural habitat of orangutans and poaching, these animals are on the verge of extinction. During the twentieth century, the population of these great apes decreased by 50% or more.

Today, there are about ten thousand Sumatran orangutans, up to 20 thousand Kalimantan orangutans, and about 800 Tapanul orangutans in the wild.

Since 2009, on the initiative of the United Nations, events have been held on August 19 to mark World Humanitarian Day. The event was launched in honor of the tragic death of the UN humanitarian mission in Baghdad in 2003.

Today's event is aimed at emphasizing the need for humanitarian cooperation between states during armed conflicts, global disasters, and natural disasters.

From the very first days of Russia's full-scale aggression, Ukraine began receiving humanitarian aid from other countries: medicines, food, clothing, transportation, and much more. The exact amount and value of this aid is impossible to calculate, because it was provided not only by governments of other countries, but also by  companies and ordinary people.

According to some estimates, as of mid-2023, Ukraine has received two billion euros worth of humanitarian aid from the EU countries. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, as of the beginning of 2024, other countries have provided us with medical humanitarian aid worth UAH 16 billion.

Since 1997, Ukraine has celebrated Beekeeper's Day on August 19.  

Ukraine has a long tradition of beekeeping. It was our countryman Petro Prokopovych who invented the frame hive, which he presented in 1814.

In this hive, Prokopovych was the first to separate the frame into an independent part of the beehive. Most importantly, it was possible to extract honey from this hive without exterminating the bees with smoke, as was the practice at the time.

The full-scale Russian aggression has had a negative impact on beekeeping in Ukraine. The military actions have destroyed about 30% of honey-bearing areas and bee swarms.

Ukraine may lose up to 40% of its projected fruit and vegetable harvest because there are not enough bees to pollinate the plants.

A typical hive can produce from 13.5 to 45 kilograms of honey per year. On average, a honey bee produces 1/12 teaspoon of honey during its lifetime.

To collect 100 g of product, a bee flies up to 46 thousand kilometers.

Today you can also celebrate World Photography Day.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, French inventors Louis Daguerre and Nisefor Niezschep were experimenting with ways to preserve the image captured through a camera obscura. In 1833, Niepce died, and in 1837, Daguerre succeeded. However, the scientist spent all his savings on experiments, so the French government claimed the rights to the invention.

The term "photography" was proposed by the French Academy of Sciences in 1839.

According to the church calendar, today is the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyr Andrew Stratilat and others.

Andrew was a Roman military commander and was interested in Christianity. According to legend, on the eve of one of the battles, he prayed for help from Jesus Christ. Andrew's army won. After that, he and more than 2,500 of his soldiers converted to Christianity. This angered the Emperor Maximian. He ordered the capture of Andrew and his soldiers. They were tortured for a long time and cruelly executed.

Andrii and Tymofii celebrate their name days on August 19.