African lions have shrunk to just 8 per cent of their historic range, with only 20,000 left in the wild. About 1,500 lions are yearly hunted for trophies, a practice that attracted global attention last year after an American dentist killed Cecil the lion with a crossbow in Zimbabwe.
A rising trade in lion bones to Asia, where such bones are replacing scarce tiger bones in supposed tonics, has raised fears of further declines. South Africa alone legally exported 1,200 skeletons – 11 tonnes of bones – between 2008 and 2011, the latest figures available.
But 182 countries at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), meeting in Johannesburg, were unable to agree on a proposal from nine African countries to ban all international trade in lion parts.
Instead, a compromise agreement banned only the trade in bones, teeth and claws from wild lions. Those coming from captive-bred lions will still be legally sold, although South Africa will now have to report on how many it sells each year. The export of trophies from lion hunting remains legal.
It would be a very, very sad day when we are not able to show our children’s children what a lion looks like because they have been hunted into extinction or because we traded their body parts into extinction, and that we have taken no responsibility in managing the situation.
Truly living with lions poses serious hardships for communities, as cattle and sometimes people can be killed by them.
WWF is very concerned at this trend and the recommendation to ban all trade in wild lion bone is a positive first step, but it does not go far enough.
Experts say any legal big cat bone trade gives the opportunity for traffickers to pass off illegal wild bones as legitimate. Lions were going extinct in numerous African countries.
The lion is most recognisable for its muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans.
Typically, the lion inhabits grasslands and savannas, but is absent in dense forests.
For decades the lion has been seen and depicted as the symbol of power, courage, pride and nobility in many regions. In other places, the lion is viewed as a majestic, regal, protector, warrior, king and a leader who can be looked upon.
The lion is the most recognisable creature that has muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. But the wild animal has also been used as metaphors by society around us to depict how spirited the lion has been. In Kenya, the lion has been used to represent patriotism on its Coat of Arms.
But one thing that is yet to be understood and taken care of is the fact that this wild cat is nearing extinction and animal lovers have moved to save it.
We should call for the world leaders who will be meeting at the G20 summit to ban this trade. Let them put mechanisms that will ensure that the trade comes to a stop. This is the only way to protect the lion and other animals from poaching.
Just over a century ago, there were more than 200,000 wild lions living in Africa. Today, there are only about 20,000. Lions are extinct in 26 African countries.
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