Lion

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The lion (Panthera leo) reigns as one of the majestic big cats in the Panthera genus and a proud member of the Felidae family. The term "African lion" accurately describes several subspecies thriving across Africa's vast landscape. Weighing up to 250 kg (550 lb), some males take their rightful place among the world's largest living cats, second only to the regal tiger. Today, wild lions roam freely in sub-Saharan Africa and India, where a dwindling population inhabits Gir Forest National Park. Historically, their domain spanned most of Africa, including North Africa, and across Eurasia from Greece to southeastern Europe and India. In the late Pleistocene era, around 10,000 years ago, Panthera leo spelaea roamed northern and western Europe, while Panthera leo atrox inhabited the Americas from the Yukon to Peru, making lions the most widespread large land mammals after humans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the lion as a vulnerable species due to a staggering 30-50% decline in its African population over two decades during the latter half of the twentieth century. Outside protected reserves and national parks, lion populations are unsustainable. While the reasons behind this decline remain unclear, habitat loss and human conflicts are the most pressing concerns. The West African lion population is particularly at risk within Africa.