24 min
The Barbary Lion: Dr Simon Black, University of Kent Cats of the Wild
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- Nature
The Barbary Lion is a distinct population of lions of the northern subspecies of lion, Panthera leo leo. that roamed the North of Africa from the western coast of Morocco through to Egypt.
They were one of the most prized and heralded exotic animals in the world, fighting bloody battles at the Colosseum, gatekeeping the famous Tower of London and they formed part of the traditional royal collection of lions for generations of Moroccan sultans and kings. but through centuries of hunting and agricultural expansion, the Barbary lion became extinct in the wild.
But what if I told you that there are lions right now in zoos across the north of Africa and Europe that some people think are genetically distinct enough to be a Barbary Lion?
And if this is true, what do we do ... how do we protect them ... and can we reintroduce back to the wilds of the Barbary coast?
Links
Barbary Lion Blog
The Barbary Lion is a distinct population of lions of the northern subspecies of lion, Panthera leo leo. that roamed the North of Africa from the western coast of Morocco through to Egypt.
They were one of the most prized and heralded exotic animals in the world, fighting bloody battles at the Colosseum, gatekeeping the famous Tower of London and they formed part of the traditional royal collection of lions for generations of Moroccan sultans and kings. but through centuries of hunting and agricultural expansion, the Barbary lion became extinct in the wild.
But what if I told you that there are lions right now in zoos across the north of Africa and Europe that some people think are genetically distinct enough to be a Barbary Lion?
And if this is true, what do we do ... how do we protect them ... and can we reintroduce back to the wilds of the Barbary coast?
Links
Barbary Lion Blog
24 min