World Animal Day is celebrated every year on October 4 to raise the status of animals in our society. It is done by encouraging individuals, animal welfare organisations, community groups, youth and children’s clubs and businesses to organise events in celebration of World Animal Day.
World Animal Day was first mentioned in the year 1931. It was started off as a way to highlight the plight of endangered species. This day has evolved into a day to honor all the animals of the world through raising awareness in whichever way possible.
- The idea of celebrating World Animal Day was first propagated by German author and animal protection activist Heinrich Zimmermann, who was also the publisher of the magazine, “Mensch und Hund” (Man and Dog).
- Zimmerman wanted the day to be observed on Oct. 4 to align it with the feast of St Francis of Assisi, who is considered to be the Patron Saint of Ecology, including animals.
- His proposal to make World Animal Day universal was unanimously accepted in May 1931 as a resolution at a congress of the world’s animal protection organizations in Florence, Italy.
- The first World Animal Day took place on March 24, 1925, after the venue, the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany, which was the only venue that could hold a large number of visitors, was not available on Oct. 4. Over 5,000 people attended the event.
Renowned people from all walks of life have shared some memorable quotes on the importance of animal welfare. Here is a compilation of the best of them.
- “Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission — to be of service to them whenever they require it… If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” — Saint Francis of Assisi
- “If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals”— German physicist Albert Einstein.
- “To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. The more helpless the creature, the more that it is entitled to protection by man from the cruelty of man”— Mahatma Gandhi, known as India’s “Father of Nation.”
- “If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and animal, with love and compassion we shall stand at the threshold of a new era in human moral and spiritual evolution – and realize, at last, our most unique quality: humanity.”— British anthropologist Jane Goodall.
- “I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.” — Former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
- “It may be suggested by some books that it is not a sin to kill an animal, but it is written in our own hearts – more clearly than in any book – that we should take pity on animals in the same way as we do on humans.” — Russian author Leo Tolstoy.
Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) founded by Miss Crystal Rogers in 1991 was built on a formidable mission to make world a better place for all animals The special cover is sponsored by CUPA The Special Cover issued on the occasion of World Animal Day features images of animals rescued by volunteers and CUPA members, logos of CUPA, World Animal Day, Swacha Bharat. The Special Pictorial Cancellation is the logo of CUPA. The stamp is of 3rd India Africa Forum Summit issued in 2015. Issued on 04th October-2017, approval No – KTK/77/2017.
