Leo lion at The Shambala Preserve

   

Saturday, August 10th has been designated as the first WORLD LIONS DAY in an effort to spread awareness about the plight of the African lions in the wild. 

  

 

Due to profit driven human actions, the Lion's very existence in the wild is threatened. In the last three decades lions have disappeared from over 75% of their current range with a population decline of over 50%. This is not conjecture but based on cold hard statistical facts. In addition to human encroachment and destruction of habitat, there is an ever increasing international trade in African lion specimens and lion trophies. Trophy hunting is especially destructive since only the strongest males are targeted. When a dominant adult male is killed in a pride, a new male will rise to take his place. In addition to fighting deaths caused by the new leader's rise to dominance, once in place he will often kill the cubs sired by the prides previous leader thus wiping out an entire generation within the pride. In addition, this selective taking out of the strongest from the genetic pool is contrary to the natural evolution of a species where the strongest should survive. Those promoting this atrocious activity claim that it provides much needed economic gain for poor African communities. This argument is negated when the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation reports that only 3 percent of revenue from trophy hunting makes it to those communities affected by hunting. The rest goes to national governments and foreign-based outfitters.

 

Is it right that this should occur so that those with enough wealth can display a stuffed trophy in their house for the sake of their vanity?

 

Over 60 percent of all lions killed for sport in Africa are shipped to the U.S. as trophies.

 

THIS IS SHAMEFUL AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!

 

Based upon endangerment throughout a significant portion of their range, lions meet the criteria in order to be listed under The Endangered Species Act. Once listed as being Endangered, the importation of African lions and their body parts would be banned in the U.S.

 

 

 

Tippi Hedren and the Roar Foundation urge you to support declaration of the African lion as an Endangered Species. To do so contact Interior Secretary Sally Jewel with your comment of support via IFAW at: http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/get-involved/help-protect-african-lions-hunters. This would go a long way in saving the one of the most majestic animals that ever walked the earth...the African lion.