Lion numbers could be halved across Africa by 2035, study warns

Lion wearing a snare illustrates threat posed by subsistence poachers

A worrisome article in Yahoo News today:

Libreville (AFP) – Lion populations could be halved across much of the African continent within 20 years, with those in west Africa in danger of being wiped out due to hunting and humans’ increasing need for cultivated land, a new study says.

The 20-year study, to be published by the US Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, sounds the alarm over the future of Africa’s estimated total of 20,000 of the big cats.

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Rhinos Could Go Extinct if Their Genocide in Africa isn’t stopped

rhino poaching

From Yahoo News:

Following the tragic killing of Cecil the lion it is imperative that we use this outrage to turn the spotlight on one of South Africa’s biggest tragedies—rhino genocide. When most travelers head to Africa for a safari vacation they are hoping to spot the “Big Five.” That is shorthand for the big game— lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. But, if things don’t change and soon, they will only ever get a chance to see the “Big Four.”

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Lions one of 23,000 species facing Extinction

Lions in Africa Need Protection According to US Government

Another sad report about the state of animal kingdom:

Geneva (AFP) – The mighty lion, reclusive cave crabs and the world’s rarest sea lion are among nearly 23,000 species at risk of dying out, a top conservation body warned on Tuesday.

In an update to its “Red List” of threatened species, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature hailed some clear advances in saving endangered species like the Iberian Lynx.

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Lions in Africa Need Protection According to US Government

Lions in Africa Need Protection According to US Government

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, “following a review of the best available scientific information, … proposed listing the African lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act” in their latest statement. According to their findings, the lions may be going extinct in the near future if protective measures are not taken. The FWS suggested that the imports and international trade need to be monitored and enforced better.

According to Yahoo News, the Endangered Species Act could bring more awareness to the dwindling number of lions in Africa. While some still roam freely, majority has been limited primarily to 10 major strongholds and human settlements keep encroaching on their territory. On top of that, the lion’s prey is also being hunted down, not only diminishing their food supply but also forcing lion’s to attack livestock leading to retaliation by humans. As the FWS Director Dan Ashe explained, it is up to the world and not just Africa alone to ensure the specie can survive for generations to come.

Source: Yahoo News

Photo by Kevin Pluck

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Cuteness alert: White lion cubs look more like little puppies than big cats

These photos might cause a double-take. Look closely: These white balls of fur aren’t puppies, or lambs, they’re lion cubs. And they’re adorable. The rare white color is due to a recessive gene. Seven of the cubs were born in captivity to three South African mama lions since last month. The baby white lions are being introduced by the zookeepers at Himeji Central Park in Japan later this week.

White Lion Cubs

There are only about 300 white lions left around the globe, according to the Daily Mail. The white lion—classified the same as its tan-colored counterpart—comes only from the Greater Timbavati region of South Africa, where they are considered a sacred species, according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust.

Nine-day-old lioness cubs are held by zoo keepers at Himeji Central Park on July 9, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. The seven white lioness cubs, given birth by three female South African Lions were born on June 6th, 26th and 30th. The cubs will be on public display for the first time later this week. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo News By Claudine Zap. No trademark infringement is intended

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