Asiatic lions Syanii and mum Arya play with a decorated ball to celebrate World Lion Day at London Zoo. Scented with his favourite Indian spices, ground ginger and cardamom, the giant lion-proof ball was a hit with the two-year-old Syanii, who practised his natural hunting skills by sniffing and clawing at the giant new enrichment toy.

Decorated with 200 colourful pawprints, the ball also marked a monumental anniversary for ZSL - the international conservation charity behind London Zoo - which turned 200 this year.

World Lion Day celebrates lions around the globe while raising awareness of the threats they face in the wild and the importance of encouraging support to protect them. Thanks to conservation efforts and the support of partners, Asiatic lion numbers have risen over recent decades, but the species is still classified as Endangered, with only 900 individuals remaining in India in a single range, the Gir Forest.

Liontrust has partnered with ZSL since 2012 to support Asiatic lion conservation and has sponsored London Zoo’s Land of the Lions since 2015. Alongside other corporate partners, their contributions support conservation science, species recovery, education, and community engagement, inspiring millions to connect with nature at London and Whipsnade Zoos. For organisations that would like to support ZSL to create a world where people and wildlife thrive, contact: corporate.partnerships@zsl.org