King of Beasts

This male lion lives in New York, at the Bronx Zoo’s African Plains exhibit.

In the wild, the African lion’s kingdom is dwindling, according to a report recently released by the Wildlife Conservation Society that says these emblematic big cats have disappeared from 82 percent of their historic distribution over the past several decades.

The decline is due primarily to conflicts with humans, destruction of habitat, and the loss of prey.  WCS scientists are working in key areas of the lion’s range to reverse this alarming trend.

• Images: Creatures of the Wild
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