African lions are one of the world's most majestic creatures, but their numbers are dwindling. In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service wants to list them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
However, that alone might not save the species. So what else can we do to save Africa's big cats?
"The African lion— a symbol of majesty, courage and strength— faces serious threats to its long-term survival. Listing it as a threatened species will bring the full protections of U.S. law to lion conservation, allowing us to strengthen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade," says Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It is up to all of us, not just the people of Africa, to ensure that healthy, wild populations continue to roam the savannah for generations to come."
Having lions listed as threatened and an endangered species is a good first step. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal gains approval, U.S. law would make killing or hunting captive lions without a special permit in the U.S. illegal. It would also mean that selling lions or their parts across state and international borders would be against the law.
These laws, however, don't apply to zoos or importing lions killed in Africa by U.S. hunters with permits from those countries.
Although one might think hunting lions is the biggest part of the problem, most agencies argue that lion numbers are mostly threatened by loss of habitat, a lack of prey and continuing problems with humans. To save the lions, these issues must also be addressed.
One of the main problems with lions is that they often encroach upon human territory. Farmers, in particular, kill big cats that threaten their cattle. Keeping lions away from humans isn't always an easy task.
Craig Packer, director of the Lion Research Center at the University of Minnesota suggests that many lions could be saved with the use of fences, which serve to keep humans and lions separated. After surveying 42 lion habitats in 11 countries, Packer and his colleagues determined that fencing could help maintain 80 percent of lion numbers in Africa.
Something that will also help is reliable data on lion population numbers. Many countries report numbers, but those numbers aren't scientifically peer-reviewed. Holding countries accountable for accurate records, could also help lion researchers understand where the populations are dwindling most and figure out where those problems lie.
Some conservation groups focus on protecting lions at home. One conservation agency recruits members of an African people known as the Maasai, who have a rite of passage that includes killing lions. Instead, the organization charged these people with protecting the creatures by paying those men salaries to track lions and protect them from hunting. Not only did this change these people's perspective on lions, but it also resulted in less lion deaths each year.
Obviously, saving the lions from extinction is more complicated than marking them as extinct. But one small step could lead to bigger steps that will ensure that these magnificent beasts exist in the future.
