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African Lion

African Lion - SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund

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Enemies<br />

According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) there has been a 50 % decline of the lion<br />

population in the past 30 years. Some experts even speak of a 90% reduction. Fact is, whereas in 1980, there were an<br />

estimated 250,000 lions, today they only number 20-30,000. The IUCN has red-listed them by giving them the rank of a<br />

"threatened species" (rank three). The cause for their level of endangerment is man, as lion hunting has always been a<br />

favorite past time to humans.<br />

Reasons for a lion’s threatened species status<br />

1. Trophy Hunting<br />

Roughly, since the beginning of man time, humans have been hunting<br />

for lions. Today's vast hunting industry is proof enough. It is norm for<br />

hunters to hunt male lions. Overall, a total of 4-5000 lions are bred so<br />

man can hunt. Often, hunting farms offer lion killings for 16,000 dollars.<br />

Apart from the decline in lion population, the hunt for male lions also<br />

results in a constant change of pride leader. When the head of a pride<br />

dies, a nomad usually takes over and kills the cubs. Such a chain of<br />

effects occurs in such short intervals that consequently, the death rate<br />

of cubs increases to 70%. Female lions may kill offspring that is not<br />

from a pride leader as well. Thus, a young lion’s chance of survival<br />

increases when a nomad coalition seizes a pride.<br />

2. Confrontation with farmers<br />

Time and again, farmers kill lions out of protection for their herds.<br />

Naturally, such farm herds are easy prey to lions that have wandered<br />

out of the parks or their territory to find food. In addition, lions are<br />

easily lured away beyond their borders when their prey is in search of<br />

water. However, there are many projects and ways that can prevent<br />

lions from killing farmer’s herds. But unfortunately, farmers usually<br />

choose the easy way out and simply shoot the predators.<br />

Although they do get compensated by the government for their loss,<br />

there are regulations that are difficult to fulfill. The farmers must be<br />

able to prove that animals are missing and were killed by wild cats.<br />

Other ways of prevention are driving the herds into stables at night (lions are night active), 24 hour supervision by dogs<br />

(studies have shown that lions tend to avoid watch dogs), or erecting pens to keep the lions out and the herds in.<br />

Furthermore, wildlife parks could move nomad lions to more remote parks, as the nomads seem to be the ones that<br />

keep wandering back to the same farmyards. Additional solutions to avoid lion-wandering are to build water reservoirs<br />

and provide enough prey in the wildlife parks.<br />

Fact is, we must find a way to ensure the survival of this species, despite man. And the first most important measures to<br />

take are to raise awareness and approach the matter professionally.

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