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When you think of the iconic animals of Africa, the lion is probably on the top of your list. Sadly, according to report by conservation group LionAid, a total of just 640 lions remain in all of western and central Africa. Already extinct in 25 African nations and disappearing in 10 others, the catastrophic decline in lion populations can be attributed to high levels of poverty, an undeveloped wildlife tourism industry, and a lack of political interest in conservation. Countries such as Nigeria have as few as 34 individuals left, making it virtually impossible to rebuild a population from such a small number. Researchers from Duke University have noted that a full three-quarters of savannah habitat has disappeared in the last fifty years, estimating that only 32,000 lions remain on continent. LionAid says they believe that the number is probably in fact far lower.
Read the rest of Conservation Group Reports That West African Lions Are on the Verge of Extinction
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Post tags: Africa, asiatic lions, burkina, cameroon, central africa, central african republic, chad, Duke University, endangered species act, lion, lionaid, niger, nigeria, US Fish and Wildlife Service, West Africa
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