Lion Populations to Decline by Half

 

East Africa, Kenya, Mara River Basin, lioness with cubs

Lions are currently considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but if upcoming assessments change their status to “endangered” they will be considered at “a very high risk of extinction in the wild”.  Scientists estimate that a mere 20,000 lions are left in all of Africa and that number will be halved in 20 years.

NWNL would like to honor these majestic animals by sharing some of our favorite lion images from our expeditions. We hope that recent public outrage over the death of Cecil, will draw attention to the plight of the African lion and boost conservation efforts.

Read related articles in the NY Times and on BBC World News.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge.)

Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve, female lion

Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve, lion resting in shade of croton bushes, September

Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve, 2 lioness on the left, two males on the right (young and adult)

Kenya: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, lion cubs

East Africa, Kenya, Mara River Basin, 2 male lion in the grass

Kenya: Maasai Mara, two male lions standing in grass

Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve, sub-adult male

Kenya: Aberdare National Park, head of male lion peering through top of tall bush

Kenya: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, head of female lion above grasses

Tanzania: Lake Manyara National Park, female lion in acacia tree

Kenya: Lake Nakuru, male lion on kill, hyena in foreground

East Africa, Kenya, Maasai Mara National Reserve, male lion

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Chief’s Island, lion cub at waterhole

Kenya: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, female and male lion during mating period

Tanzania: Serengeti National Park, two male lions standing on grassy plain

Kenya: Maasai male lion sitting in grass

Kenya: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, female lion lying and peering through grasses at sunset

Kenya: Buffalo Springs National Reserve, lion hunting

Tanzania: Ruaha National Park, close-up portrait of male lion

Tanzania: Serengeti National Moru Kopjes, two male lions in grassy plain

Tanzania: Seregenti National Park, Moru Kopjes, two female lions with four-month-old cubs near water hole

Kenya: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, head of large-maned male lion lying in grasses

Posted by Jasmine Graf, Associate Director of No Water No Life.