World Lion Day - 10th August 2023
Featured on Flickr Explore #41 on 2023-08-10.
Five sad facts about the "King of Animals":
1. Africa’s lion population has reduced by approximately 43% over the past 21 years according to the IUCN. This big cat species (Panthera leo) is listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable; facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
2. An estimated 20,000 lions are left in the wild. They are extinct in 26 African countries and have disappeared from 90% of their historical roaming grounds.
3. In South Africa, there are currently more lions kept in captivity for canned hunting purposes than there are in the wild. None of the animals being kept in captivity can be used in relocation or conservation programmes as they are often tame and genetically contaminated.
4. Sub-Saharan Africa is developing and expanding at a rapid rate, resulting in the lions facing habitat destruction, loss of their prey base to the bush meat trade and, ultimately, human-lion conflict.
5. At the rate that we are currently going, it is estimated that lions will be extinct in the wild by 2050
To read more about this global campaign aimed at celebrating the importance of lions and to raise awareness of their plight, please visit the World Lion Day website.
King Olobor of the Black Rock Pride was captured busy feeding before sunrise, during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
World Lion Day - 10th August 2023
Featured on Flickr Explore #41 on 2023-08-10.
Five sad facts about the "King of Animals":
1. Africa’s lion population has reduced by approximately 43% over the past 21 years according to the IUCN. This big cat species (Panthera leo) is listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable; facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
2. An estimated 20,000 lions are left in the wild. They are extinct in 26 African countries and have disappeared from 90% of their historical roaming grounds.
3. In South Africa, there are currently more lions kept in captivity for canned hunting purposes than there are in the wild. None of the animals being kept in captivity can be used in relocation or conservation programmes as they are often tame and genetically contaminated.
4. Sub-Saharan Africa is developing and expanding at a rapid rate, resulting in the lions facing habitat destruction, loss of their prey base to the bush meat trade and, ultimately, human-lion conflict.
5. At the rate that we are currently going, it is estimated that lions will be extinct in the wild by 2050
To read more about this global campaign aimed at celebrating the importance of lions and to raise awareness of their plight, please visit the World Lion Day website.
King Olobor of the Black Rock Pride was captured busy feeding before sunrise, during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.