African lions currently facing the risk of extinction will be protected under US law as an endangered species. The decision follows the killing of Cecil the lion earlier this year by an American dentist. That incident paved the way for much stricter regulations regarding the import and export of lion carcasses.
The protection extends to a lion subspecies known as Panthera leo leo, which has a population of roughly 1,400 individuals. Yet another subspecies, Panthera leo melanochaita, is also thought of as ‘threatened’ with around 19,000 and 17,000 found across eastern and southern Africa. This decision will not prohibit hunting lions but significantly raises the bar for those who are interested in applying for a lion hunting permit.
