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Martin Meissner / AP
Trophy lions include this stuffed specimen at an international hunting exposition in Dortmund, Germany, in 2011.
If wildlife activists have their way, U.S. hunters trekking to Africa soon won't be able to bring back any lion skins or skulls as trophies.
Acting on a petition by those activists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday said it will study whether the species warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Born Free USA, one of the petition groups, called the review "the necessary first step toward ensuring a chance at survival for this beleaguered species."
African lion populations have seen "a substantial decline" over the past two decades and are estimated to be around 32,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which monitors species numbers globally.
The threats include not only trophy hunters, but loss of habitat, humans eating lion meat, and commercial sale of their body parts, said Adam Roberts, executive vice president of Born Free USA.
As humans move into lion habitat, he added, that increases "retaliatory killings, including by gruesome poisoning," of lions that go after livestock.
The Fish and Wildlife Service began a 60-day period to receive public and expert comment on whether to list the species. The Asian lion was listed as endangered in 1970.
In their petition, the activists cited U.S. trade figures showing that more than 5,600 wild Africa lions were hunted and then exported as trophies between 1999 and 2008, with 64 percent of those trophies being imported into the U.S.
Trophy hunters counter that while their hobby is regulated, licensed and recorded, the slaughter of lions by locals protecting livestock is rampant and largely uncontrolled.
Many African nations with lion populations they consider healthy allow trophy hunting as a way to bring in revenue for locals as well as to help fund wildlife programs.
The U.S. has listed non-native animals before since the act is meant to ensure the U.S. citizens "do not contribute to the further decline of that species in its native habitat," the Fish and Wildlife Service said in its announcement.
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Leave a Comment:
Obviously the US has to do something to keep the Africans away from the African Lions. Wait. Never mind.
Economykiller--so, since some locals kill the lions either by loss of habitat or by defending their own livestock, it is THEREFORE quite OK for US rich folk to go over and use the lion as target practice and for Boasting rights?
Let me guess, when you were a kid, did your mom ever say ANYTHING like "just because Tommy's mom lets HIM do it does not make it ok for YOU to"?
It is not a matter of 'the other guy is doing it.' It is a matter of "WE should be more civilized than to KILL animals to prove what 'studs' we are."
I wouldn't ever hunt a lion, but there are always unintended consequences of regulations like these, and in this case it may end up doing more harm than good for the lions"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-rabinowitz/hunting-lions-unpalatable_1_b_833150.html
Hunters and conservationists have more in common than either side will ever admit. Hunters as a whole, contribute more to conservation than any other group.
Just because some American is filthy rich does not give him or her some God-given right to fly over to Africa and blow out the brains of one of these magnificent animals for 'pleasure' with a high powered rifle. Now if they want to take one on with just a Swiss Army knife and have already assigned half of their estate to the World Wildlife Fund maybe we should consider it once in a while.
what a stupid comment.
In related news, I changed the oil and filter in my car today.
Whoever hunts Lions in this day and age is an a hole.
Electric fences or dogs can keep the lions at bay from cattle eventually they will stop trying for awhile. Poisoning the king of the jungle just is not cool. Loud noise will also scare Lions away.
On this subject, the US should spend its money in the US and let the UN worry about Africian Lions.
Let the Africans worry about their lions. Its about time other countries start fixing their own problems.
Lions are very dangerous. Hundreds of people every year are eaten by lions.
Clarence--and IF a person who is a legal RESIDENT of the area the lions live in is PERSONALLY endangered (for NO activity of his own being the cause) that person has the right to defend himself.
NO one has the right to kill another creature for TROPHY issues.
AP Garcia--fine and dandy if you are willing to admit that US CITIZENS should be spending their money HERE, or if they have money to burn, in PHOTOing Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh, MY.
The excuse 'let the UN take care of it is NOT enough as long as we personally are contributing to the problem.
Amazing how in this country you cannot import Havana Cigars, but you can bring back some lion's skull, private parts, Skin, etc. that you shot for FUN.
I have been to Africa and have had a first hand look at this issue. This article is missleading to say the least, the major problem for the lions future( as well as Elephants, rhinos and Hippos) are the major poaching from local poaching rings in the lions homelands. American hunters along with European hunters spend major amounts of money. This money directly pays for anti poaching patrols and to keep, and add add land to keep these animals wild. Please check the number of African lions actually taken every year by american hunters compared to the number of lions that are protected with the money these same hunters spend. Yes the African lion has value and without that monetary value they would allready be gone. Please go and check the real facts on this issue. Oh and by the way I wasnt there to hunt but to build churches.
No one in this world needs to have a dead lion in their living room and I hope Born Free USA is successful. I hope cheetahs are already on the list. If they aren't, they should be.
"African" lions? As opposed to "European" lions? South American lions?
What other continent has lions?
as opposed to mountain lions
Sam:
Mountain lions are found in North America.
Asiatic lions , genus Panthera, are found in India.
America numb nuts, ever heard of a mountain lion?????
a "mountain lion" is a puma, not a "lion".
and to your "mind" a sage grouse is just a chicken and a spotted owl is just a sparrow...
gotta love the ignorance
"A mountain lion is a puma, not a panther" is what you meant, as "panther" (which includes African lions) is the taxonomical equivalent to "puma". Since we're distinguishing the common names that include "lion", that is irrelevant.
I like"cougar" the best.
I saw some cougars at the mall this weekend. They were licking their chops on a cosmo. and some chicken wings!
Asiatic lions, in Gujarat state, India. Highly endangered. Look just like African lions.
sam--well, WE do. they are called Mountain lions. I could be wrong, and am not anal enough to go looking, but I'd GUESS that the scientific name for 'African Lion' is something like "Leo Africanus.''
Sam
Did you really make that statement??
I never heard anyone refer to "mountain lions" as lions. They're always referred to as "mountain lions:,
I'll accept correction from this guy.
I always thought Lions = Africa. Tigers = India
We need to start worrying about our own habitat and our own species being driven to the brink of instigation. Let Born Free USA move to Africa and help with their project instead of getting us involved. They can start by telling a hungry African that he can not kill a lion to feed his hungry family....Let's see how far they get with that one.
Brink of instigation? The issue is also once the lions are gone, so is the food source. The lions are also not being hunted for the meat usually...it for the tropies.
I think when Donald Trump's kid went on safari in Africa, he shot a lion so the mane could be used for the Donald's hair.
Really? I hope that toupe is made soon. The Donald's looking even scruffier than usual these days.
The lions should be protected. Humans should not hunt any animal to extinction. It is our responsibility.
The Africans need to enforce their own conservation of lions. They need to recognize that tourists looking at the wildlife will bring in more money than the trophy hunters. Course, they've got to make their countries safer and stop the incessant wars there. We've got enough issues without worrying about their problems.
photo safari tourists don't bring much into the economy and certainly don't protect many animals. Those are primarily commercial ventures and the lions in the photo safari areas are well protected, not wild at all. Hunters bring far more money and protection to the wildlife. I have supported anti-poaching efforts in Africa for many years
How about putting middle income Americans on the list too.
The only people interested in keeping lions around are the hunters. As long as a hunter will pay big bucks to hunt a lion $50,000 or more per lion then they have some economic value and will be preserved by the countries that have them. When they are just a problem for the people in the area they will be killed on site because otherwise they will kill and eat humans as they are easy prey. This is not Disneyland where the animals talk, this is real life and people are just another protein source.
Good post. I would add one exception though. My Ex wife would be more of a source for fat than protein.
They lions don't care, they are not on some vegi diet. What is never publicized are the # of tourists that are killed every year on Photo Graphic safari's. The lions are very used to seeing humans and have attacked buses and cars, especially when one breaks down or has a flat.
Could you provide us some links.
Only a blind inbred moron would say "let the Africans worry about their own country, and we'll focus on ours" or "let NATO take care of it". If it were up to the idiots, like you, all species of animal would be extinct, including you. Unfortunately, the latter has been voided, thus far.
PS, I apologize to anyone inbred, that was an insult to classify you, with them.
@ ray123456789 Your reply makes about as much sense as the idiot you are. Where in my reply did it say to let the animal species become extinct??? Who do think is letting people hunt these fine animals for sport?? The U.S. NO the Africans are. Who is poisoning these fine animals? The Africans are. Read the article carefully next time. It's time THEY started enforcing laws to stop the killings not us. We are not the worlds Police Force. We have learned that the hard way. What it comes down to is MONEY. If you have enough of it your can hunt anything you want anywhere. We stand up and enforce laws here to protect our animals why can't they?
P.S. I apologize to any idiots here for classifying you in the same category as this Moron.
WaySouth -- A moron is someone who sees a problem developing and does nothing so that the problem becomes catastrophic. If this country contributes to a problem, we should do something to stop it. If you read the article more carefully, it's about making and enforcing laws about what can and cannot be imported into THIS country. And I'd go beyond that and say that if we can do more, we absolutely should.
If we don't worry about these Lions now..they will go extinct,just like alot of other animals have.Its sad to see something like this happen-knowing we can try to stop it now.I agree with Jack Dulouz,lions-as many other animals should be protected and not be hunted to extinction-its our responsibility as HUMANS to know the difference between sport and food.
I'd say 99% of all animals are harmless to humans, but with so many of them dying and suffering at our hands, directly or indirectly it is hard to blame them for attacking us in those rare occasions. I certainly sympatihize with animals, and hopefully an event where lead species of the animal kingdom can show sympathy is enlightening....
There is one who is aware and will bring them to ruin. Read the Bible there will be an event to stop this! georgelittl3@gmail.com
Nowhere near 99% of animals are harmless to humans. The vast majority that come in contact with humans are indeed a threat to those humans at some level. Ever been bit by a dog or kicked by a horse? Bitten by an insect? Scratched by a cat?
Those are just animals that you might run into in an average town. Go out into the world and take a look - in the wild, animals are wild. It's not a petting zoo out there. The danger level goes WAY up.
Not that I support killing animals for sport, but your concept of animal life is a bit off.
lol, ur the one!
the only animals not endangered are vermin and the two leggers and oftentime they are the same thing
and He will bring to ruin those ruining the earth.
consider the logical fallacies there
The African lion should be on the endangered species list in the US, if not extinct. They belong in Africa. I can be stupid too.
Chances are good that it is mostly Americans going there and shooting them for sport and trophies. This needs to stop before there is nothing left !
I would love to see rapist, pedifiles, robbers, child abusers and the like hit the endangered species list for a change !
We worry so much about animal populations, but what about the human population ? Who checks that ?
Trophy hunters are the absolute lowest life form. Typically, they are men in question of their manhood, so they have to kill any magnificent animals that represent the epitome of maleness in the animal kingdom, along with whatever other animal they can blast with machinery that a blind person could kill with, having 100% success.
You are exactly right.
Every time a poacher or similar story comes out, I think "Get Viagra or a penis extension (or both). Stop poaching, trophy hunting and canned hunting (where, BTW, exotic animals are imported) and all these related behaviors. No, Rhino horns and elephant tusks will NOT fix what is lacking between the legs (and the ears...) Ditto for shark fins (admittedly not sure what those are used for beyond showing off how rich one is but that comes around to virility in many ways).
Men who are kind to animals are sexy as hell AND sex is great-the kindness and care extends to other loved ones. And who can say no to a wonderful partner after he just, again, did some animal rescue work with you and spoiled the dogs rotten, for the umpteenth time, on his way into the b/r?
Wow, no need to cause such a big roar!
But they're not endangered. In fact, they're farm raised. That's right. By the same outfits that charge a fortune to kill them. Oh, whatever. The African Free Trade Agreement will put an end to this silliness.
When I read the headline, I thought this article was about Suh and an all NFL bounty to take him out.
LOL. That was quite unexpected. I got a kickout of that...