Africa's most potent symbol, the lion, could be extinct within two decades, it was reported yesterday.
According to Rapport newspaper, it is estimated there are between 16 500 and 30 000 lions in the wild worldwide.
Endangered Wildlife Trust director Harriet Davies-Mostert was quoted as saying: "Lions are largely threatened because they are not tolerated outside protected areas. In particular, stock farmers and shepherds have cut lion numbers."
She said habitat loss and trophy hunting were also having an effect.
In Kenya, wildlife authorities claimed they were losing 100 lions a year and the lion population had dropped to about 2000 in the wild.
Davies-Mostert warned that the slaughter of Africa's lions could increase as demand for "medicine" products from the Far East rose.
The Beeld report said that lion numbers had fallen by 30% in the past 20 years, and there was a 10% chance the animals could be extinct in the next 20 years.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/local/article687999.ece/Big-Five-will-be-only-four
