04 世界动物日 World Animal Day

If you love animals, then you should put World Animal Day on your calendar or in your diary. It takes place each year on the 4th of October. It all started in Italy in 1931 at an ecology conference. The scientists wanted to highlight the plight of endangered species. People were concerned about this even at the beginning of the last century. Today the day celebrates all kinds of animal life. Many countries around the world hold different activities and events. It is on October the 4th because this is the day of St Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of animals. Anyone, from any religion, background or country celebrates this important day.

You can get lots of information from the official www.worldanimalday.com website. The purpose of the site is to commemorate people’s love and respect for animals. It says the day “belongs to everyone” and is “a special opportunity for anyone who loves animals”. The site’s mission statement has four aims: To celebrate animal life in all its forms; to acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives; to celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom; and to acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives. The site includes a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”