The King of the Jungle Needs Your Help Today
Lions are a keystone species. They play an important role in balancing ecosystems. At the top of the food chain, the king of the jungle controls herd and smaller carnivore populations. Lions mostly prey on herd animals thereby helping control herbivore populations in the ecosystem. They also weed out the weakest animals in herds and this helps keep the herds strong and disease free. Ecosystems without big carnivores such as lions leave room for smaller carnivores, like baboons, to thrive and this in many cases has resulted in several human wildlife conflicts due to the mischievous nature of such animals.
Lions are currently under threat and classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some sub populations thought to be critically endangered. As with most wildlife problems, the increase in human population is at the top of the list of threats to the lion species. Human settlements have encroached in areas that were once lion territory. Poaching is also a growing threat to lions everywhere. In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Dan Ashe warned that lions may become extinct in the wild by 2050 if nothing is done to protect them.
Not All Hope is Lost – How You Can Help
10th August is World Lion Day aimed at spreading awareness about the threats to lions.
Why not join movements and lend a helping hand to groups or organizations working to save lions and their habitats such as our local Zambian Carnivore Program and Wildlife Crime Prevention or the international charity Panthera.
Lastly, you can appreciate lions in their natural habitat by going on safari and visiting our National Parks with breathtaking Lion sightings such as;