As the human population continues to expand and take over
former wilderness areas, lions are losing their habitats to humans. Livestock
production is the only viable way of making a living for many
rural African people and often lands become severely overgrazed,
degrading previously pristine habitats.
Former wildernesses
are turning into barren regions, with less wildlife, particularly
grazers like zebra and wildebeest, which have to compete with
livestock for food and water. |
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As humans take over lion habitat and eliminate wildlife prey, lions turn to taking livestock and are in turned speared or poisoned in retaliation.
Although lions can reproduce rapidly, in most areas the killing outstrips the lions’ ability to replenish their numbers.
Ever-increasing numbers of people and easy availability of cheap effective poison has created a lion conservation crisis in all but the largest African protected areas. |
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