Game of Kings

Ruler of the vast plains of Africa & the forests of India, king of beasts, the Lion. (sister blog to bigcatwildcat) #MotherOfLions

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Photo by Colin Jackson

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A lioness, with a bad eye, gnawing on a zebra head in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

Photo by Elmar Weiss

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how many lions are left in the wild? like an estimated number?

The total wild lion population is approximately 20,000. All of the remaining wild lions live in sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the Asiatic lion population residing in the Gir Forest National Park, India. Their numbers have increased from 411 (2010 census) to 523 (2015 census). In August of 2017, the Asiatic lion census revealed 650 wild individuals. 

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Of the 20,000 lions left in the wild, less than 3,000 are males that make it this far. Each year, 600 of those battle-weary warriors, survivors of this arguous game of Kings are shot for sport and recreation. Today we have more statues of lions than we have real lions. Unless we change our values very soon, we’ll have only these cold empty eyes to remind us of how much we have lost.

Game Of Lions (via big-catsss)

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Photo: Nilesh Fatnaney

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Photo: TuAnh Nguyen

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Photo: Wouter van der Wiel

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Photo: Jannicke C Hallum

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Photo: Bridgena Barnard

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Photo: AnthillTiger

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Photo: Robert Gravel

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Photo: Rudi Hulshof

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Photo: Tracey Barrett

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Fewer than 20,000 lions roam in the wild. Human encroachment, habitat degradation, poaching, retaliatory killings and prey-base depletion has led to the decline and fragmentation of the lion populations. 

In honor of World Lion Day, and with your support, we can help save these iconic beasts from extinction. 

Show your support by donating to Panthera’s Project Leonardo and/or the Wildlife Conservation Trust to help conserve and protect African and Asiatic lion populations.

Photos: Anita Ritenour

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Photo: Matthew Poole

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Photo: Matthew Poole

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Photos: Chris Eason