There are three international wild cat days observed in August each year:
- August 4th - International Clouded Leopard Day
- August 8th - Scottish Wildcat Day
- August 10th - World Lion Day.
Here we cover the origins of each day, organisations to support and any hashtags to share on social media leading up to and on the day.
International Clouded Leopard Day - August 4th, 2026
Origins
International Clouded Leopard Day, celebrated every August 4, was officially launched in 2018 by Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, UK, under the leadership of carnivore keepers Lauren Amos and Dan Kemp, in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation. The inaugural event featured talks, guided tours, and family‑friendly activities aimed at raising global awareness about the plight of the clouded leopard — an elusive and vulnerable wild cat native to the forests of Southeast Asia. The initiative was spearheaded to create a focal point for coordinated conservation efforts, uniting zoos, wildlife parks, NGOs, and the general public in a shared mission to protect this iconic species.
The timing of August 4 was chosen to coincide with the species’ increasing conservation urgency: clouded leopards have been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2008, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild, facing threats such as rampant deforestation, illegal wildlife‑trade, and habitat fragmentation.
Organisations Involved
Since its inception, International Clouded Leopard Day has gone global - zoos like the Cincinnati Zoo, educational outlets, and conservation organizations around the world now host events ranging from keeper talks and guided nocturnal walks to interactive school workshops and fundraising drives.
Two major conservation organizations to support include the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), both of which fund anti‑poaching patrols and work to secure and expand clouded leopard habitat in key regions like Malaysia and India. Another is the Clouded Leopard Working Group, which focuses on field research and community engagement to bolster long‑term conservation capacity. Supporting these groups - whether through donations, volunteering, or fostering public awareness - provides critical resources for ongoing protection and scientific study.
What You Can Do
On social media, promote the campaign with hashtags like #InternationalCloudedLeopardDay and #CloudedLeopardDay. People are encouraged to share images, fun facts, and video tours using these hashtags during the August 4th observance, helping to foster a global community of advocates.
By marking August 4 as International Clouded Leopard Day, organizers aim not only to spotlight these remarkable felines but also to inspire meaningful conservation action—from financial support to policy change—that safeguards their future. Through coordinated efforts, educational outreach, and digital engagement, the movement continues to grow every year, sending a powerful message: the future of the clouded leopard depends on what we do today.
Scottish Wildcat Day ~ August 8th, 2026
Origins
Every year on 8 August, conservationists, wildlife lovers, and concerned citizens across Scotland and beyond unite to celebrate Scottish Wildcat Day, a dedicated day aimed at raising awareness of the UK’s most endangered native feline - the Scottish Wildcat. First established by Action For Earth (a grassroots environmental group) in 2016, and promoted online since at least 2017–18, the event has steadily gained traction.
Organisations Involved
Scottish Wildcat Day is run annually by Action For Earth, with additional support from major conservation organizations such as Saving Wildcats (the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland-led reintroduction programme), Scottish Wildcat Action, the Scottish Wildcat Association/Wildcat Haven, and NatureScot. These groups are working in partnership to protect genetically pure wildcats (only about 35 – 100 remain in the wild), curb hybridisation with domestic cats, vaccinate and neuter feral and pet cats, restore habitats, and run captive breeding and release initiatives — most notably the 2023 reintroduction of captive-bred cats into the Cairngorms.
What You Can Do
Activities on Scottish Wildcat Day range from virtual awareness campaigns and social media sharing to in-person events such as talks, guided walks, art and craft workshops, and fundraising drives. A popular public-facing campaign, “Supercats”, encourages responsible pet ownership - microchipping, vaccination and neutering domestic cats - to prevent disease transmission and hybridisation, using the hashtag #Supercat.
Across social platforms, the key hashtags to rally awareness include: #ScottishWildcatDay, #WildcatDay, #HighlandTigerDay. Supporters can take action in several meaningful ways: donate to conservation charities like Saving Wildcats or Wildcat Haven, sponsor a wildcat, volunteer for neutering drives in rural Highland communities, spread awareness via media, buy wildcat-inspired merchandise, or lobby for stronger wildlife protections under UK law. The collective goal is clear: elevate the conversation, fund critical recovery programmes, and harness the power of community and digital advocacy to secure a future for this emblematic Highland predator - often affectionately dubbed the “Highland Tiger”.
By joining in on 8 August, participants not only honor an ancient lineage of wildcats - descended from European Wildcats - but also pledge actionable support to a conservation journey that could spell the difference between survival and extinction. Use the hashtags, share the stories, back the projects - and together, help bring the Scottish wildcat back from the brink.
Note August 8 is also International Cat Day - celebrating primarily domestic cats but also wild cats.
World Lion Day - August 10th, 2026
Origins
World Lion Day, observed every year on August 10th, is a global initiative devoted to raising awareness and support for lion conservation. First celebrated on August 10, 2013, the event was founded by renowned conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert - wildlife filmmakers and co‑founders of the Big Cat Initiative in partnership with National Geographic - with the inaugural gathering held in Livingstone, Zambia (Wikipedia). The day aims to spotlight the rapid decline in lion populations - chiefly African lions, whose numbers have dropped by approximately 43% since 2001—and to address threats such as habitat loss, human–lion conflict, poaching for parts and trophy hunting (World Animal Protection).
Organisations
While the Jouberts initiated the movement, it has since garnered the support of numerous wildlife and conservation organizations, including African Parks, LionAid, Lion Guardians, Ewaso Lions, Conservation Lower Zambezi, Desert Lion Conservation Project, Etosha Lion Project, Mara Naboisho Lion Project, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Global White Lion Protection Trust, Uganda Conservation Foundation and more. World Lion Day’s mission is to engage individuals and communities worldwide in measures like fundraising, educational campaigns, wildlife photography, art, public lectures, zoo-based events and eco‑tourism that prioritizes lion welfare and habitat preservation.
What You Can Do
For those wishing to take action, impactful options include donating to leading groups such as Panthera, World Animal Protection, Born Free Foundation - and even contributing directly to on‑the‑ground projects like Poacher Patrols and Predator‑Proof Bomas in East Africa. When it comes to social media, the most widely used and effective hashtags for storytelling and awareness campaigns are #WorldLionDay and #savethelions.
By uniting voices across platforms, advocates can amplify urgent messages about lion plight, promote responsible wildlife tourism, lobby for stronger legal protections and encourage coexistence initiatives. In short, World Lion Day combines advocacy, education and action - calling on passionate individuals, wildlife professionals and policymakers to “Save the King of Beasts” and ensure these iconic apex predators endure for future generations.
Leave a Reply