Many credit southern Africa’s success to the way it manages its conservation areas. Compared to the rest of the continent, lions in this region are of the 'least concern' status. While African lion populations have declined by around 43% from 1993 to 2014, four southern African countries - Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe - saw an increase during the same time. They believe the lack of adequate protection and human population increases may devastate the lions. However, some experts speculate that East African lion populations have a 37% chance of shrinking by 50% over the next two decades. There is evidence that their populations are either increasing or only slightly declining. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya are home to the most lions in the region, and three of the five largest populations are in Tanzania. Also, reserves in West and Central Africa have open systems where wildlife is free to roam in and out of the areas, which may cause an increase in human-animal conflicts.ĭespite the lion population in East Africa decreasing by 57% from 1993 to 2014, it is home to one of the largest lion populations in the continent, with about 11,000 individuals. A significant issue in the region that may have contributed to the decline is bushmeat hunting by locals. About 500 lions are critically endangered in West Africa, while around 2,200 lions are regionally endangered in Central Africa. A study analyzing 47 lion populations in protected areas around Africa found that almost all lion populations in West and Central Africa have a 67% chance of declining by 50% over the next 20 years. Lions in West and Central Africa have seen the most severe declines over the decades. Asiatic lions live in India’s Gir Forest National Park in the state of Gujarat. African lions reside in West and Central Africa (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal), East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), and Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland). Lions once roamed much of Europe, Africa, and Asia, but they have disappeared from 94% of their historic range and live mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.
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