Lions roam in grassy plains, savannas, dense bush and open woodlands, however, their habitat is shrinking (AWF Lion, 2020). Lions are losing their habitat by human encroachment, growth of agriculture, infrastructure, farmland and livestock (AWF Lion, 2020; Ewaso Lions Human-Carnivore Conflict, 2020; WCS Lions, 2020). Lions exist in only 8% of their historic range (Lion Recovery Fund Distribution, 2020).
Human population growth is pushing lions out of their habitat and the lions are being left with no wher to go (WCS Lions, 2020). Africa is home to 1.2 billion people and is estimated to be home to 2.47 billion people in 2050 (Panthera, WildAid & WildCru., 2016; UNDESA, 2015). With more people there needs to be more development and food to support those people (Panthera, WildAid & WildCru., 2016). It is estimated that livestock will increase by 73% to support the 1.2 billion people, destroying even more habitat that lions need to survive (Panthera, WildAid & WildCru., 2016).
When habitat is lost connectivity between habitats is also lost. Human settlement and development are creating smaller isolated pockets of land making it challenging for lions to roam between habitat pockets, which could hurt the gene pool (LRF Threats, 2020). When habitat is lost, lions also lose their prey and have no choice but to move trying to find new prey, often leading them closer to humans (AWF Lion, 2020; Ewaso Lions Human-Carnivore Conflict, 2020; WCS Lions, 2020). Without enough space and food the lions cannot have a healthy population (National Geographic Education, 2011).
‘Habitat loss is the leading threat to Africa’s biodiversity’ (AWF Land, 2020). The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is working with communities to ensure they understand the value lions bring to the ecosystem (AWF Lion, 2020). They are also using scientific research and data to determine the lion population, their behaviors, movements and interactions with people so they can develop appropriate conservation actions (AWF Lion, 2020). AWF works on empowering communities to use sustainable natural resource management (AWF Land, 2020). They follow a three-pronged approach of land, wildlife and people and strive to involve people in the conversation of conserving land and wildlife (AWF Land, 2020).
*Lion in photo is Ernest at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, taken by Helene Hoffman. Visit her Flickr account.
Literature Cited
African Wildlife Foundation. (2020). Land & habitat protection.
African Wildlife Foundation. (2020). Wildlife conservation: Lion.
Ewaso Lions. (2020). Human-carnivore conflict. https://ewasolions.org/human-carnivore-conflict/
Hoffman, H. (2016, May 7). Lion in the grasses [Photograph]. Flickr.
Lion Recovery Fund. (2020). Distribution & status.
Lion Recovery Fund. (2020). Threats to lions. https://www.lionrecoveryfund.org/threats-to-lions/
National Geographic Society. (2011). Education: Big cats initiative.
Panthera., WildAid., & WildCru. (2016). Beyond Cecil: Africa’s lions in crisis.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). World
population prospects: The 2015 revision, key findings and advance tables. ESA/P/WP.241. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/publications/files/key_findings_wpp_2015.pdf
Wildlife Conservation Society. (2020). Wildlife: Lions.
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