The population of wild African lions has decreased by 90% over the last century, a period in which they have become extinct in 26 countries, and the number of these cats has halved in 25 years to between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals distributed for a tenth of its historical territory.
WWF provides these "alarming data" on the occasion of International Lion Day, which is celebrated today Thursday. The lion is one of the greatest icons of African wildlife and the only cat that lives in large herds (up to 40 individuals), led by a dominant male.
Being one of the largest predators, this cat plays an essential role in maintaining healthy populations of antelope, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and wildebeest, and the balance of nature on the African continent.
This big cat is protected and included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with the category of 'vulnerable', the step prior to being 'in danger of extinction'.
Its greatest threats are the loss of habitats due to agricultural expansion, lack of food, and competition with humans for wild prey, as well as conflicts with ranchers, poaching, and illegal trade. As control over the trafficking of animals grows, such as the tiger or the elephant, new victims such as the lion emerge.
“These majestic animals are persecuted, poisoned, tricked, hunted to be sold in clandestine markets for the sale of their skulls, skins, teeth or fat, as well as their claws as jewelry items. In addition, in some Asian countries wine is made with lion bones as a symbol of social status," according to WWF.
This organization points out that the trafficking of species is equivalent to that of drugs and weapons, but much less risky and prosecuted, despite the fact that it generates a similar social and economic impact, in addition to the corresponding impact on biodiversity.
Due to its geographical location, Spain is one of the most prominent European players in international wildlife trafficking routes.
For this reason, WWF Spain has been developing its 'Stop species trafficking' campaign since 2017 in order to involve society in the fight against this crime against nature through the collection of signatures and the commitment not to acquire live protected exotic animals. , their remains or derivative products, disseminate the messages of the campaign and ask the Government to increase the means to fight against organized networks and illegal trafficking.
For 60 years, WWF has created reserves and protected spaces for lions and all the wildlife that accompanies them. Thus, in Soknot (southern Kenya and northern Tanzania) a project has been launched to reverse the situation and double the number of lions by 2050.
WWF also fights against poachers and has launched awareness projects that have led some of them to become park rangers. In addition, it trains rangers who fight illegal hunting and works with ranchers and tribal leaders to achieve a harmonious coexistence between lions and humans.
