Estimates claim that up to 80% of the remaining population could be lost by 2030. Morbillivirus erupted in the Serengeti lion population and killed around 30% of the population (according to some estimates) and bovine tuberculosis has also devastated the lion population in South Africa. Lion populations have been irreparably affected by disease in the last few years. Lions once roamed across most of the continent, but they have been thrust into a world where they are struggling to survive and it has had devastating consequences on this once mighty species. The communities have no choice but to kill lions that get too close. Without a habitat that can support their needs, lions are forced to venture into villages and kill the livestock communities rely on for survival. These shrinking habitats also mean humans and lions are being pushed closer together. Lions no longer have access to the vast stretches of savanna grasslands they need to find food, viable mating partners, and thrive as a pride. This loss of habitat has severe consequences. Wild land is harvested for developments and agriculture and pushing lions (and many other animals) out of their natural habitats.Īcross Africa, lions now occupy less than 92% of the land they once did. The loss of habitats is the leading cause of wildlife extinction and a reason why so many animals are endangered. Either way, it’s clear that more challenges are faced than the term “vulnerable” necessarily suggests. These stats may be news to you, or you may be fighting on the front line of lion conservation. What are the Biggest Threats to African Lions? However, thanks to volunteer programs such as African Big 5 & Wildlife Conservation and Big Cat Wildlife Research & Conservation, lion populations are slowly bouncing back, and in some areas, thriving. In some parts of Africa, lions are classified as “critically endangered” because lion populations are still plummeting at an unprecedented rate. Lions are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Lions are extinct in 26 countries across Africa.There are currently only about 23,000 lions left in the wild.The lion population in Africa has decreased by 90% in the last century.Unfortunately, with the illegal wildlife trade booming, poachers lurking in the shadows, and trophy hunters paying thousands of dollars to hunt them, lions are disappearing at an alarming rate. Lions are one of the most loved animals in the world and one of the biggest drawcards for travelers to Africa. Planning Tips For Your Volunteering Trip AbroadĪt the current rate of habitat loss and poaching, African lions could be completely extinct by 2050.Responsible and Sustainable Travel Whilst Volunteering.