As the human population continues to expand and take over
new areas, lions are losing their habitats to humans. Livestock
production is the only viable way of making a living for many
rural African people and often lands become severely overgrazed,
degrading previously pristine habitats.
Former wildernesses
are turning into barren regions, with less wildlife, particularly
grazers like zebra and wildebeest, which have to compete with
livestock for food and water. |
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Because of the dramatic reduction of their ranges and a decreased
availability of their wild prey, lions are increasingly moving into
human habitats and coming into contact with people and their livestock,
where they sometimes resort to preying on cattle, and can cause
significant impact on farmers’ livelihoods.
As a result many
are killed. The increasing interaction between humans, domestic
livestock and the remaining lions in Africa, and the easy availability
of guns, traps and poisons may mean that the lions of Africa will
soon die out unless urgent action is taken. |
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