Many people confuse World Animal Day on October 4 with Vegetarian Day, which is also celebrated in mid-autumn (October 1). This is absolutely different holidays. World Animal Day is a reminder that all our neighbors on the planet, every species, from the vast African elephant to the tiny snail are equally important and valuable in nature.
Lion Park "Taigan"history of the holiday
World Animal Day has been celebrated annually since 1931. It was established at a meeting of the International Congress of Conservationists in Florence. More than 60 world powers supported this initiative, and now conduct annual various events and flash mobs dedicated to this day.
By the way, the date of the holiday was also not chosen by chance and has religious roots. October 4 is considered the day of remembrance of the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known as the patron saint of animals. If you believe the legend, then Francis of Assisi knew how to communicate even with wild animals, and in his sermons he invariably exalted compassion and love for all living creatures.
Time to think
October 4 is World Animal Day. This is the time to stop and think about how destructive human influence is on environment.
UnionNews It seems to us that nothing is changing around us: the same squirrels are jumping in the trees, the same snowdrops are blooming in early spring. Now imagine: according to WWF statistics wildlife), every day on Earth. And that is not all:
- Every year, people cut down more than 15,000,000 hectares of forest, resulting in the death of over 36,000 species of wild plants;
- every 60 minutes at least 3 types of animals;
- Every second the planet loses 1.5 hectares of virgin forests.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands the consequences of an irresponsible attitude towards wildlife. And World Animal Day on October 4 is another way to remind people that they are not the king of nature and should treat their neighbors on the planet with respect and care.
How is World Animal Day celebrated?
On October 4, ecologists hold various educational events, prepare reports on why it is so important to protect the fauna of the planet, how extinction can affect human life different types. On this day, many shelters organize “Find a Friend” campaigns, encouraging those who have long dreamed of having pet, don’t buy a kitten or puppy for hundreds of dollars, but take one who really needs love and care.
Separately, myths associated with healing parts of the body of living creatures are discussed - for example, elephant tusks, for which poachers kill hundreds of good-natured giants every year.
Lenta.ru In the West and in Russia, activists organize various flash mobs. For example, in Chelyabinsk for several years in a row public association“Chance” and the faculty preschool education ChSPU held an “animal flash mob”: future teachers with fur tails attached and cat faces painted on their faces danced in the city center to fiery music. Nearby, at the same time, activists were distributing stray animals “into good hands” - vaccinated, with certificates and a great desire to find a family.
Many western stars on this day they record video messages to their fans, also urging them to pay attention to the problems of endangered species.
Many events are already planned for World Animal Day on October 4th. different corners planets.
In the Moscow parks “Kuzminki-Lublino”, “ Bitsevsky forest” and “Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo” will host thematic concerts, and environmental specialists will teach all guests how to feed the birds.
Khakassia In Ussuriysk, the local “star”, the bulldog Karamelka, who has her own Instagram account and more than 260,000 subscribers, also congratulated all wild and domestic animals. In honor of the holiday, the four-legged celebrity will give delicious gifts to the inhabitants of city shelters, and will even take patronage over a lonely puppy until a new loving family is found for the baby.
And veterinarians Ulyanovsk region decided to celebrate World Animal Day 2016 by organizing the event “ Good Doctor Aibolit.” On October 4, specialists from state veterinary clinics will provide free assistance and advice to everyone.
The Smolensk Zoo also joined the celebration. From October 4, a “Harvest Festival” will be held here - everyone will be able to feed the zoo’s pets fruits, nuts and berries.
International Animal Day is a holiday that has long been known throughout the world. This event should draw people's attention not only to their own problems, but also to the lives of other inhabitants of our planet.
International Animal Day - October 4
It's no secret that every year more and more different species are dying out. biological species- from one to five. The rate of extinction continues to increase. This factor, of course, is very sad.
The future of animals is currently threatened by many different things. Excessive consumption natural resources, the destruction of forests and wetlands for the construction of new roads and sites, poaching destroy millions of innocent creatures. International Animal Day is a holiday created especially for them.
This concerns, by the way, not only wild ones must also be protected, because the number of people who cruelly treat them also increases every year.
A little history
The roots of this wonderful holiday go back to 1931. Animal protection began to be celebrated in Italy. It was a way of drawing attention to the dire plight of endangered species. At that time, a congress of supporters of the conservation movement was taking place in Florence. Since then, on October 4, all animals existing in the world have been honored.
This date was not chosen by chance. This is the day of remembrance of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
He died in 1226, October 4. That is why the congress settled on this date. This is how World Animal Day came into being. The history and features of the holiday are known all over the world today. A wide variety of events dedicated to this date are held in more than 60 countries.
Pay attention to the unfortunate animals!
Humanity in last years, of course, became very bitter. However, there are still many caring people in this world. International Animal Day should draw their attention to many problems of the inhabitants of planet Earth. The idea of holding a holiday has long taken root around the world. This is encouraging, because over the past 25 years the diversity of the flora and fauna of our planet has decreased by a third! Accordingly, it is necessary to do something, take some measures! This holiday does not let you forget about it.
Animals are the best rescuers...
Many ancient legends exist about Francis of Assisi. If you believe them, he knew how to communicate with any animal. In turn, they obeyed him and protected him.
Animals truly are the best lifesavers. Repeatedly they rescued a person in difficult situations. Dogs serve as guides and save people in the mountains; cats charge people with positive energy and even “heal” sick parts of the body. Moreover, there were completely incredible cases when a child was protected by a gorilla, or a whale pulled a drowning diver from the depths of the ocean.
...however, people are not lagging behind!
However, the man also repeatedly acted as a rescuer. Just look at the story of the champion from Colorado, who returned home from Sochi not only with medals, but also with dogs grateful to him.
The Olympic Games required the so-called “cleansing” of the city. Gus Kenworthy was able to save his four-legged friends from death by taking them with him. Together with his friend Robin MacDonald, the twenty-two-year-old freestyler began collaborating with the International humanitarian organization. It was she who helped transport the dogs to America.
In addition, Kenworthy and MacDonald created a special account called “Sochi Pups.” Here you can take a look at their favorites. In just a week, 17,000 users have already subscribed to the account. On International Day for the Protection of Stray Animals, they came here en masse to leave new comments.
On the eve of the holiday, by the way, you can also receive a special award named after St. Francis. It is awarded for special achievements in the field of animal protection. Gus Kenworthy clearly deserves this award!
What can be done for our little brothers?
So how can you help the animals? What can you do to support International Day animal rights?
First, simply join a special protection society. There will be a lot of a large number of various events aimed at attracting public attention to our four-legged friends.
International Animal Day in Kyiv, for example, takes place not only with the organization of various competitions for animals, but also with charity concerts with the participation of local musical groups.
In a word, in different countries Around the world, similar initiatives are implemented every year. On this day, people even come to nurseries, where many homeless city animals eventually find their owners. Here, those who want to find a true friend will definitely be given the necessary advice, all recommendations for caring for a pet, and will be told about the method of placing them in a new family.
And to help wild animals in need of human assistance, it was even created special service salvation. By phone hotline Anyone can apply. Service workers are always happy to accept everything necessary measures: cure your patients or give them new house. That is, the organization strives with all its might to show that every animal deserves respect and decent treatment from humans.
The animal world occupies a special place in human life. For many, representatives of the fauna are not just an object of admiration, but best friends and faithful companions, salvation from loneliness and lovely healers. But we love and cherish pets who have become our family, and we absolutely do not think about the problems of the animal world on a global scale. It is these issues that focus on the holiday dedicated to all animals.
For humanity animal world has always been, first of all, a source of food, materials for making clothes, household utensils, and even medicines and weapons. Man has always felt like the king of nature and ruthlessly used its resources for his own good. This attitude left an indelible mark. Many species of fauna have simply disappeared or are on the verge of extinction. Environmental organizations have always sought to draw attention to problems of this kind. They are trying to convey thoughts about the importance of each animal to the public on Animal Protection Day.
Who's celebrating?
Man appeared on earth as one of the species of the animal world. Thanks to the presence of intelligence, he was able to rise to a higher level. And this step allowed the person to feel superior. Establishing relations with the “smaller brothers” was ambiguous.
To survive, people had to kill animals. This was justified not only by the need for food, but by the need for protection from predators.
A man like the most dangerous predator, continues to hunt animals and birds today. And if for ancient man This was justified by necessity, then modern hunters act only for their own pleasure.
There are simply barbaric customs. Believe it or not, in Denmark, on the Faroe Islands, all the residents of the surrounding villages gather once a year to kill dolphins. The entire bay turns red with the blood of innocently killed mammals.
Despite the protests of environmental organizations, the madness continues and, in addition, is justified by local customs.
Not last role played a role in the extermination of fauna folk beliefs. The purpose of the hunt was to destroy representatives of the “devilish spirit” or sacrifice. So, the Bali tigers were completely exterminated local residents, since they were considered not just dangerous, but threatening peace of mind.
And, of course, personal gain. Hunters pursued selfish goals for unique skins and tusks, fat, meat and entrails. Exotic lovers pay exorbitant amounts of money to stroke their vanity.
Poaching is the main cause of death of many species of fauna in modern world. Methods of combating poaching in many countries are prescribed in legislative level. But for the sake of his own benefit, man finds more and more sophisticated loopholes on how to obtain the coveted animal raw materials.
The rapid development of industry, the expansion of agricultural land, the growth of cities in the best possible way affected the situation of animals. Water and air pollution, loss of natural habitats, increase temperature conditions, disruption of biological chains leads to natural extinction.
Only a person can stop this whole process. Of course, it is impossible to talk about human complete indifference to the problems of the animal world. Issues of protection, revival, and humane treatment are raised quite acutely in society.
In addition to the contribution of public environmental organizations, a lot has been done on state level. Specific police squads have been created whose purpose is to combat poaching. In the open waters, this function is performed by fisheries inspectors.
Organized scientific laboratories and nurseries whose purpose is breeding rare species animals. Gamekeepers and foresters work in forest lands, who not only monitor the number of fauna, but also feed the animals and fight poaching. Employees of these organizations can rightfully consider a holiday dedicated to the protection of animals as their own.
No less pressing is the question of ill-treatment with pets. A person, having played enough with a living toy, often simply throws it out into the street.
The problem of stray cats and dogs, of course, can be solved through joint efforts. But now, in most cases, this is done by volunteer organizations that find a new home for homeless pets.
Undoubtedly, the activities of public, state, and volunteer organizations make a significant contribution to solving issues of protecting the animal world. But solving them at this level without the participation of every person is unrealistic. Therefore, we can safely say that a holiday dedicated to the protection of the animal world is a day when every caring person should think about what he personally can do for our “younger brothers.”
history of the holiday
The history of the animal holiday is quite symbolic. It owes its appearance to the active actions of supporters of caring for the living world.
Having gathered at the next International Congress in Florence, they sharply raised the issue of the need to establish a special day dedicated to the problems of the animal world. In this way they tried to attract the attention of the world community to solving these problems. The event is dated 1931, and the date world day Animal Protection was timed to coincide with October 4. This symbolic date has not only an important, but also a religious meaning for all lovers of animals.
On October 4, on the eve of the Congress in 1926, the world remembered the Christian saint Francis of Assisi, who died 700 years ago. The whole life of Saint Francis was devoted to helping the suffering. For this purpose, he created a charitable monastic order, which became a haven not only for people in trouble, but also for animals and birds.
His boundless love for nature allowed him to find mutual language with any living creature. According to beliefs, the saint could not only understand animals and birds, but also talk to them. They, in turn, responded to him with boundless devotion and could defend their patron if necessary.
In his sermons he told his disciples about the importance natural processes in nature. He tried to call people to compassion and love towards to the wild world. Awakening the shoots of humanity, the saint tried to convey to Christians thoughts about the equality of all God's creatures. Pope Paul II noted the importance of St. Francis' environmental activities. In 1979 he was awarded the honorary title of “first ecologist”.
Therefore, modern ecologists consider the saint the patron saint of wildlife, and the day of his veneration has become the date for celebrating the day of animals - animals in need of help, protection and protection.
Thanks to this holiday, ecologists from different countries were able to unite and direct their efforts towards environmental goals. During the existence of Animal Day, a lot has been done. The legislation of many countries has been supplemented with articles that provide for severe punishment for people who cruelly and barbarously treat living creatures.
The Council of Europe has signed many important documents aimed at protecting various animals.
Thus, in 1986, the world became acquainted with the Regulations, which stipulate the rights of experimental and laboratory animals. And literally a year later the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Pets was signed.
In addition, on international level Extinction issues are being addressed individual species animals. Therefore, more narrowly focused holidays appeared, such as Tiger Day, Whale and Dolphin Day, polar bear, Elephant Day, Night bats. All these holidays pursue one goal - to reveal to the public the real state of affairs and call for solutions to global issues.
The holiday came to Russia in 2000. The initiative belongs to the Nature Protection Fund. Since then, every year in our country on November 4, charity and volunteer events are organized, forums and conferences dedicated to the animal world are held. Participants in environmental movements and simply concerned people take part in parades and demonstrations, concerts and fairs designed to emphasize the right of animals to a free and comfortable life.
Disappointing facts: on the verge of extinction
Representatives of the animal world sometimes amaze people not only with their beauty, but also with amazing facts.
It turns out that the best herd guards were not dogs, but quaggas - distant relatives of zebras. Their keen eyes allowed them to notice the approach of predators before anyone else. Passenger pigeons were considered the most numerous birds on the planet. Marsupial wolf cubs spent their first three months of life confined to their mother's pouch. Is it true, Interesting Facts about unusual animals. Only extinct ones. And this is only a tiny fraction of the information about those copies that are irretrievably lost.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the animal world has halved in 40 years. Both livestock and entire species disappear. Particularly alarming are the statistics about the inhabitants fresh water. Thanks to human activity, their numbers have decreased by 75%. The situation with “terrestrial” species is not much better. Up to 40% of animal species have been irretrievably lost.
The figures announced by the fund are simply depressing:
- up to 70 species of flora and fauna disappear from the planet every day;
- every 20 minutes the world loses one species of living creature;
- Every second, up to 1.5 hectares of forest plantations are irretrievably lost.
Of course, work is underway to prevent such processes. Protected areas are being created, hunting is prohibited, and lists of rare species are being compiled that, according to the Convention, are subject to protection. But the global nature of the problem allows us to emphasize the importance of the contribution of each person.
Congratulations on Animal Day
On the day when the whole world rises up to fight for animal rights, I would like to sincerely wish you not to know the pleasures of your own superiority over your “lesser brothers,” not to experience the pleasure of killing the defenseless, not to feel relief after getting rid of an annoying pet. Let your heart be filled with kindness, and your hands reach out to the cute animal, so as not to offend, but to caress, feed, cure.
Their eyes sparkle with hope and warmth.
Four paws, a wet nose and a sea of fur.
And let us not care at all,
What fate awaits our “smaller brothers”.
Become like the fox cunning and the owl wiser,
Like a lynx faster and faster,
Become stronger like a mule
And how an elephant is more powerful.
But don't forget that you are human
Capable of loving and creating.
Indeed, in our difficult and cruel age,
Only you know how to feel sorry and create.
Larisa, August 28, 2016.World Animal Day
Today, October 4, is World Animal Day. Many centuries ago lived Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of monastic order, who provided assistance to the suffering and persecuted, including our smaller brothers - animals and birds. Francis of Assisi was considered the patron saint of all animals on Earth. According to legends that have survived to this day, Francis had an incredible ability to come into contact with wild animals, which not only did not harm him, but also obeyed the saint and also protected him. Francis of Assisi called on believers not to harm animals and spoke out in their defense. The saint believed that nature itself has very important and does not depend on the values attached to it by a person. It is Francis who is credited with developing the science of environmental ethics, which studies the intrinsic values of wild nature and careful attitude to everything living. Since then, the day of the saint's death - October 4, 1226 - has been celebrated as Animal Protection Day throughout the world.
The modern World Animal Day was established in 1931 on International Congress supporters of the movement for the protection of nature, held in Florence. It was from this year that various animal protection societies from many countries around the world spoke out in favor of uniting their efforts in protecting animals and supported the idea of annually celebrating World Animal Day on October 4th. Later, ideas about protecting animal rights received legal registration in many European countries. For example, in 1986 the Council of Europe adopted the Convention for the Protection of Experimental Animals, and in 1987 for the Protection of Domestic Animals.
In Russia, World Animal Protection Day has been celebrated since 2000 on the initiative of International Fund animal protection. On this day, in many regions of our vast country, humane actions and events are held aimed at instilling in people a caring and responsible attitude towards our smaller brothers, drawing attention to solving the problems of homeless animals, as well as condemning cruelty to animals.
Every year on the eve of World Animal Day, the Saint Francis Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of conservation.
ECOportal.ru congratulates its readers on the holiday - World Animal Day and calls on them to join efforts in preserving the animal world of our planet and humanely treating domestic animals!
Think about it:
3 species of animals disappear from the face of the Earth every hour...
1/4 of all species of flora and fauna of our planet will cease to exist in the near future...
70% of the world's fish stocks are on the verge of extinction due to overfishing...
35% of all species of marine animals have already disappeared from the face of the Earth without a trace...
Over the past 25 years biological diversity The earth has shrunk by 1/3...
Did you know what's up late XIX centuries, one of the most common birds on Earth were passenger pigeons? And quaggas, relatives of zebras, were considered the best guards of herds, because they noticed the approach of predators before others? And the fact that the cubs spend the first three months of their lives marsupial wolf were born and fed exclusively in the abdominal pouch of the mother? Agree, very amazing facts o no less Only extinct. Because thanks to the activity, or, conversely, inactivity, of man, they completely disappeared from the face of the planet.
Quagga - the cutest subspecies of Burchell's zebra, completely exterminated by humans
Just recently, the World Wide Fund provided another report on the biodiversity of the animal world. His data is amazing: over the past 40 years, the number of animal species has decreased by 2 times. Especially on the inhabitants of freshwater bodies, the number of species of which has decreased by 75%! WITH terrestrial species things are “better” - their number has decreased by 40%.
In order to influence the situation and this problem, in 1931 in Florence, at the International Congress of supporters of the movement for the protection of nature, it was decided to establish October 4 is World Animal Day. The date was not chosen by chance - it was on this day in 1226 that Saint Francis of Assisi died. The founder of the monastic order was the greatest intercessor and patron of our lesser brothers, who was sensitive to any manifestation of life, who taught us to sympathize and feel the pain of living beings more acutely than our own. He preached spirituality and tried to replace the idea of the limitlessness of human dominion with the idea of the equality of all living creatures, including humans. The Saint Francis Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of conservation.
Saint Francis preaching to the birds
Icon painter: Alexander Stolyarov
Initially, the purpose of Animal Protection Day was to attract public attention to the plight of endangered species, but the idea of the holiday received such massive support that it gradually turned into a day of honoring all the animals of the world. On this day, animal protection societies, environmental organizations, and simply groups of concerned citizens hold various events aimed at raising awareness of existing animal problems, expressing gratitude to our smaller brothers for their significant roles in our lives, and glorifying animal life in all its manifestations. As a result, not only the replenishment of the ranks of animal rights activists, but also the legal registration of animal rights. Thus, in 1986, the Council of Europe adopted the Convention for the Protection of Experimental Animals, and a year later – for the protection of domestic pets.
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