African lions on their way to extinction

[Barney Gumble]

Research has revealed the lion population of Africa has undergone a dramatic decline over the past 20-years.

A report in the New Scientist magazine says there are just 23,000 lions left on the continent, down from around 200,000 in the 1980s.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s949240.htm

[gristy]

1. I saw that report.

Very sad. The 1980's were not so long ago. And to think the lion population has been literally decimated in that short time.

[kwolf68]

2. Yea

Lions have also in many parts gone through a genetic bottleneck.

Sadly, one day Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Cougars, and damn near every other large cat will be relegated to the same pages that encompass Dinosaurs.

Sadly, we won't be able to blame a big rock hitting the earth on the big cats demise. That demise...is on our hands. I hope our children will understand.

[elifino]

3. Lions

I had the privilage to work for 2 months in Phalaborwa S.A. in 1970. At that time it was not unusual to see Lions almost everyday while in Kruger Game Park. They have done to good a job in bringing back the Elephants, hopefully they will do as well with the Lions.