Poverty Threatens Extinction

POVERTY THREATENS EXTINCTION There are only about 400 lions left in West Africa, where poverty and inadequate conservatiom funding could make extinction imminent. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED <200 NIGER SENEGAL <10 Historical lion range MALI LION STATUS IN PROTECED AREAS BURKINA FASO <20 Confirmed present GUINEA Potentially still present GUINEA- BISSAU COTE NIGERIA Considered absent A D'IVOIRE GHANA Estimated number of adult lions present BENIN TOGO 75% 85% The African lion has lost 75 percent of its historic range. The situation is most critical in West Africa, where the species is considered regionally endangered. Large mammal populations in West Africa declined by 85% between 1970 and 2005, compared to an average 59% decline across the continent. COMPETING FOR MEAT Growing, impoverished human populations have created unsustainable bushmeat hunting practices – including poaching prey animals in protected areas – leaving lions with nothing to eat. Main drivers of lion decline Human population in Ghana, in millions - - Observed wildlife biomass in Ghana, in tons* 30 1,000 Prey base depletion through unsustainable hunting 23.75 800 17.5 600 Retaliatory killing of lions due to perceived or real human-lion conflict 11.25 400 5 200 Large-scale habitat conversion *Data available through 1999 TOO POOR FOR PRESERVATION Distribution of conservation NGO spending in sub-Saharan Africa, 2010 Percent of population making less than $2 a day Classified by the United Nations as one of the world's least developed countries $5.5M 84.4 West Africa 77.9 78.6 75.3 75.2 72.5 69.5 $31.6M Central Africa 55.2 51.8 52.6 46.3 $34.2M East Africa $46.3M South Africa Mali Burkina Faso Cote d'Ivoire Benin Ghana Guinea Guinea- Niger Nigeria Senegal Togo Bissau Sources: Scientific American, Panthera, World Bank, Conservation Letters, PLOS One, Science THE HUFFINGTON POST Photo: Getty 1971 1973 1975 1977 6L61 1981 1983 1985 Z861 1989 1991 1993 1995 L661 6661 2001 2003 2013