Humans and Lions

Lions have no natural enemies, apart from humans who have hunted them for centuries. They were once common throughout southern Europe and southern Asia eastwards to northern and central India and over the whole of Africa.

The last lion in Europe died between 80-100AD. By 1884 the only lions left in India were in the Gir forest where only a dozen were left. They were probably extinct elsewhere in southern Asia, for example, in Iran and Iraq, soon after 1884.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century the Gir lions have been protected and their numbers have increased steadily over the years. Lions have been wiped out in northern Africa, and in southern Africa, outside the Kruger Park. They only live in the wild in remote areas which have remained undeveloped.

Well managed National Parks and game reserves are probably the lion's best hope of survival for the future.