Last week, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) asked for African lions to be listed as “threatened†under the Endangered Species Act. This move would help protect them from extinction.
The African lion population, in 1980, was predicted to be 75,800, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). That number has dropped by 30%. The Fish and Wildlife service adds that about 70% of all lion populations inhabit just 10 areas in eastern and southern Africa.
“Unless things improve, lions will face extinction,†said Daniel Ashe, the director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The main threats to the big cats are loss of habitat, lack of prey, and more conflicts with humans. Over time, more humans have moved into areas inhabited by lions. Experts believe human population in sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2050, making the problem worse.