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The Vanishing Lions
Introduction

Africa’s lion population appears to be declining at an alarming rate. NATURE’s The Vanishing Lions searches for explanations and solutions to the troubling trend.

Across Africa, the King of Beasts is in trouble. In the late 20th century, wildlife preserves were created to curtail safari hunting, but the African lion population continues to decline. Their numbers have dwindled from 100,000 in the early 1990s to no more than 30,000 and as few as 16,000 today. What could be endangering the King of Beasts?

In the mid-1990s a mysterious disease spread rapidly through the lion population in Tanzania and Kenya. An investigation revealed that the big cats had contracted canine distemper from jackals and hyenas that were picking it up from dogs in nearby villages. The spread of the disease was quickly halted and today lion numbers in the affected areas are back to previous levels.

If canine distemper was halted, why have lions continued to decline? An ever-expanding human population has led to competition between herders and lions for land and food. Lions living at the edge of the preserves sometimes stray from protected areas in search of easy prey. The Maasai and other ranchers will often kill them to protect their livestock and source of livelihood.

But as NATURE’s The Vanishing Lions shows, Africans are now struggling to reverse the decline. Everyone from scientists and conservationists to Maasai herders and ranchers is working together to find solutions. Travel to Kenya’s famed Serengeti Plains, the wildlife-rich Laikipia Plateau, and elsewhere in Africa as NATURE explores efforts to allow people and lions to coexist and prosper.

To order a copy of The Vanishing Lions, visit the NATURE Shop.

Online content for The Vanishing Lions was originally posted April 2006.

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23 comments

#1

06/24/2008 :: 12:37:01 PM
Thirteen/WNET » Africa’s Vanishing Lions Says:

[...] Lions” investigates declining lion populations this Sunday, June 29th at 8pm on Thirteen. Watch a preview of the episode at NATURE online, then discover what measures experts are taking to reverse the [...]

#2

06/26/2008 :: 09:31:06 PM
Vinlend Says:

we must do sumthing to pretact the wild animals!!

#3

06/29/2008 :: 11:57:30 AM
monica Says:

i need to find answers to the tv triva and i cant find it

#4

06/29/2008 :: 08:59:02 PM
Alexandra Says:

omg! i’am so impresed about how has the population of the lions decreased! we need 2 help our world!

#5

06/29/2008 :: 09:15:11 PM
Marie Says:

How can I help?

#6

06/29/2008 :: 09:24:31 PM
Abby Says:

I can not belive that people can hunt them, like I’m a hunter(for whitetail deer), but lions wow. I am 12 years old, when Im 25 im going 2 africa

#7

06/29/2008 :: 11:58:31 PM
wow Says:

wow wow wow wow wow

#8

06/30/2008 :: 08:48:14 AM
J Stanley Says:

It was chilling to hear the great white hunter list off the countries where he could hunt, legally and to kill, lions for 50K USD.

#9

06/30/2008 :: 10:35:45 AM
T Caldwell Says:

I’m not sure it’s a feasible solution but has anyone thought of developing some kind of repellent that would deter the lions from attacking the cattle? Seems they’ve been able to make something to keep cats away from from places they don’t want them so something along those lines, but obviously much, much stronger might do the trick.

#10

06/30/2008 :: 01:27:46 PM
Marlee Says:

As a human race — we are the only species that takes it upon ourselves to not only kill other species for materialistic/egocentric reasons and we also wage that war on our own species. How pompous to limit our solutions and think as God’s creation we have the solution and that solution is to kill one of his creatures so that it can hang in our trophy room. I am certain when he created the beautiful lion — his purpose was not for our egos.

#11

06/30/2008 :: 03:49:33 PM
Dominic Says:

Killing lions because they attack local cattle can be justified, but hunting them for sport is totally unacceptable. Please stop making Africa the playground for rich trophy hunters.

And perhaps the Maasai do not really want their standard of living “raised” by the money gained from hunting. More focus should be placed on helping these people lead their simple, peaceful, traditional lives rather than forcibly introducing them to modernity.

#12

06/30/2008 :: 04:55:21 PM
Pedro R. Aguilr III Says:

just saw “the vanishing lion” it made me start thinking what i might be able to do. killing and allowing such a majestic animal when numbers are declining is something our LORD created for a purpose on this earth should be eliminated for donig what comes naturaly. i believe in killing for food or to protect a persons safety but not for trophy.but if they want to pay then mae them pay big.
here is an idea……supply the tribal leaders with lion problems with tranquilizer gun, cage, and radio to contact game warden offer a bounty for captured lions make it profitable for the tribe…take the captured lion and decide whether it should go to a hunting area or to a game reserve this way most of the cost could be recovered from those rich hunters
food for thought
pete

#13

06/30/2008 :: 05:12:21 PM
lynsie Says:

why do people want to kill lions and watching the vanishing lions show made me think that lions are more important to this world if lions die out and no more are what will our kids think of lions.will they think killing them is to protect our livestock but the lions help us too and if i go to africa i will do my best to show i care about the lions and the lions terf i undeerstand that the hunters kill for money and some kill for food. the hunters should only kill them if taking to much food or if its about to attack the hunter. when the lions take to much of the animmals then they can kill that lion dont kill it if it takes one every so often its fine but not every night or day.lions play an important role in this world like us humans do so we all should take care of our lions before not even one is left.

#14

06/30/2008 :: 10:40:47 PM
Michal Dawson Says:

Is the “Vanishing Lions” on DVD? Also, when will it be aired on television again. This aired, I believe, on WIPB Muncie, Indiana on June 29 at 8 p.m. I missed it, darn it!!!! The channel out of Muncie is 49, but we get it here in Kokomo, IN on channel 21

#15

07/02/2008 :: 09:50:52 AM
Larry G. Mabry Says:

I agree with Marlee and the others who are disgusted with the practice of “trophy hunting”. This practice is totally contrary to the laws of nature and the mostly wealthy rednecks who practice it are no better than poachers . I bet the “Great White Hunter” on the program despite his “macho” attitude would be very reluctant to tackle a lion with a Massi spear than with a rifle capable of killing a lion at 1000 yds. That’s sport?Damn shame the lions can’t shoot back.

#16

07/05/2008 :: 12:58:25 AM
Crystal Says:

The program blew me away. It was heartbreaking. We humans are not the creators or “owners” of this world. Why do we feel that the planet is for our needs alone? What makes us more important? That we “intellectualize?” How do we know that other creatures don’t do the same in their own way? Because they don’t build highrises and wage war on other species? I give a resounding AMEN to Larry Mabry’s “Damn shame lions can’t shoot back.”

#17

07/06/2008 :: 06:20:50 PM
Unbelievable Says:

I caught the show on re-run yesterday . I was put off by the Great White Hunter that was granted media time to tell the world how amazining it feels to hunt “Big” Game. I think its cruel and unusual to hunt for reasons other than a means of survival. There needs to be a stop put to the hunting of any wildlife… I’m pretty sure people would be more upset if it was a horse, dog, or parrot that people were hunting. I was truly upset that this goes on in Africa. White man again capable of doing whatever he wants as long as its not in his people’s backyard.

#18

07/06/2008 :: 10:26:36 PM
Ali Says:

It’s very understandable that all the creatures of God have no meaning in the eyes of people that are blinded by the “$” signs..

For anyone to very openly and boldly declare and count more than 5 countries which he alone hunts for money is nothing less than pathetic. I’d sure wish to hunt him for a change!!

Lions, tigers, polar bears, all animals are humanistic values are doomed to the greed of man!!

#19

07/09/2008 :: 11:25:14 PM
Maryanne Burke Says:

What an incredible show…and how complicated solutions are.

#20

07/19/2008 :: 07:57:24 PM
Ashish Says:

barbary lions are extinct,few are left in the captivity. Asiatic lions are around 300 in numbers,but not found in the wild. and the number of african lions between 30-16 thousand,that’s the sign to act from today.
Human can compete their own way, let king of beast rule the wild.

#21

07/27/2008 :: 10:48:08 PM
Donald Harris Says:

I don’t think that mankind is aware that a very real link exsist between nature and himself. A fine balance indeed. Man and his enviroment. In harmony one dependent upon the other.

#22

07/28/2008 :: 12:10:26 AM
carlos morales Says:

im looking to buy a video were lions eat other animals non stop .

#23

09/14/2008 :: 06:41:36 PM
anisa Says:

it is sad knowing lions are dieing there are atlest 30,000 to 16,000 live today in 1990 there was more than 1,00000.

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