World Animal Welfare Day - Everything you need to know about World Animal Welfare Day History, Significance and Facts
Monika | Updated Aug 03, 2020 09:31 AM
World Animal Welfare Day 2020
World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated on the 4th of October every year. World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated to create awareness about the importance of improving the welfare standards of animals worldwide. World Animal Welfare Day was first started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy, to highlight the importance of endangered species. It is also known as "Animal Lovers Day." Though it is a beautiful way to unite the animal welfare movement around the world, embracing all animals and the unique concerns of each in every country, many factors lead to this day's origin. Let us have a look at all the factors in detail in this article.
What is the History of World Animal Welfare Day?
World Animal Day concurs with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, including animals. Heinrich Zimmermann first organized it on the 24th of March 1925. He hosted the first-ever World Animal Day at Sports Palace in Berlin, Germany. More than 5,000 people attended the first event. The event was first scheduled for the 4th of October to align with Saint Francis of Assisi feast day but was moved to March due to the venue's unavailability.
In 2003, Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based animal welfare charity launched the first World Animal Day website. It is a small charity and financial support for World Animal Day. It has always been minimal, identifying cost-effective ways to progress this powerful movement, which is key to ensuring its full potential.
What is the Aim and Significance of World Animal Welfare Day?
World Animal Welfare Day aims to improve animal welfare standards worldwide through the support and involvement of individuals, groups, and organizations that love and care for animals. It is also known as “Animal Lovers Day.” Though it is a beautiful way to unite the animal welfare movement around the world, embracing all animals and the unique needs of each in every country, many factors lead to the origin of this day. These factors included the inhuman treatment given to the world’s 60 billion farm animals, negligence to stray dogs and cats, and illegal killing and selling of wild animals. Moreover, the animals are usually kept out of mind during any natural disasters or calamities.
It is important to spread awareness about the importance of animals in humans’ life and be kind to animals in every possible way. Feeding not only your pet dog or cat but also stray animals is also equally important.
World Animal Welfare day Celebrations
The best thing about World Animal day is that it is not restricted to any nationality, creed, religion, political belief, or ideology. This observance is for those who care for animals and who should care for these beautiful creations. Several organizations, animal welfare groups, individuals, schools, charitable trusts, and clubs, etc. participate in the World Animal day celebration. Every year, the number of events happening on this day has increased substantially. This day's purpose is to ensure our active contributions in saving endangered species and care for all other species of animals. The occasion offers us a reason to unite the animal welfare movement worldwide.
Animal welfare campaigns are launched on World Animal Welfare Day. Rescue shelters for the animals are opened across the world, along with fundraising events. Schools and a varied group of wildlife arrange information displays. Voluntary organizations come forward to sponsor shelter for the animals. World Animal Welfare day is an essential reminder of different ways in which animals brighten our lives.
Some interesting facts about Animals
A cow’s “moo” has a different accent depending on what region they originate from
Bats always turn left when they fly out of a cave
Zebras are actually white with black stripes
Flamingoes can eat only when their heads are upside down
A duck’s “quack” never echoes, anywhere, and nobody knows why
The fingerprints of a koala are so indistinguishable from humans that they have on occasion been confused at a crime scene.
Elephants are the only animal that can't jump.
A Rhino's horn is made of hair
It is possible to hypnotize a frog by placing it on its back and gently stroking its stomach.
It takes a sloth two weeks to digest its food.
Nearly three percent of the ice in Antarctic glaciers is penguin urine.
Giraffes have no vocal chords.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Around 50 percent of orangutans have fractured bones, due to falling out of trees on a regular basis.
Frogs cannot vomit. If one absolutely has to, then it will vomit its entire stomach.
Parrots will selflessly help each other out
Female lions do 90 percent of the hunting
The world's oldest known breed of domesticated dog dates back to 329 BC
And the oldest evidence of domesticated cats dates back 9,500 years.
Bottlenose dolphins are even more right-handed than humans.
Capuchin monkeys wash their hands and feet in urine.
A grizzly bear's bite is strong enough to crush a bowling ball.
Ducks can surf.
Zebra stripes act as a natural bug repellant.
Octopuses can taste with their arms.
Dolphins have names for one another.
Reindeer eyes turn blue in the winter.
Adult cats only meow at humans.
Otters have the world's thickest fur.
Snow leopards don't roar.
Squirrels will adopt orphans.
Deer can run up to 35 miles per hour.
Cats recognize their own name but choose not to respond.
Giraffes with darker spots are more dominant.
Horses have distinct facial expressions.
World Animal Welfare Day - FAQs
World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated on 4th October across the world to raise awareness about improving the welfare standards of the animals across the world and also to celebrate the relationship between humankind and animal kingdom.
The fastest land animal is the cheetah, which has a recorded speed of between 109.4 km/h (68.0 mph) and 120.7 km/h (75.0 mph).
Blue whales are the largest animal that has ever lived on the earth.