World Lion Day is celebrated on August 10 and here’s a gallery of Sunderland photos to show how the king of the jungle is celebrated on Wearside.
Wallace the Lion is pictured in 1952 and we have the Mowbray Park statue as well as Durham County Cricket Club’s mascot.
Lions at Lambton and even a lollipop lady dressed as one of the creatures are included.
Have a look at these Echo archive photos.
5. Flashback to 1977
The Army helped move a cage containing three tigers, a lion and a puma when it got wedged in a gateway in Seaburn Zooworld in March 1977. | se
6. Kathleen looks roarsome in Murton
Crossing patrol officer Kathleen Swan dressed as a lion to greet children at St Joseph's RC Primary in March 2005. | se
7. Spectacular in Durham
This lion led the way during the Chinese New Year celebrations in Durham in February 2006. | se
8. Memories from Mowbray Park
The Mowbray Park lion looked majestic in the sunlight in January 2008. | se