Over the next twenty to forty years over half the lions of Africa could be gone as the species is steadily becoming more endangered. With agriculture and other human impact tearing through Africa at alarming speed, fencing in ecosystems may be the only way to protect them. A recent study campared the effectiveness of conservation efforts using fenced in parks and open territory throughout eleven African countries. Open territory parks are very expensive to maintain and the wildlife within comes in much contact with humans. Many times the lions in these parks are killed by ranchers in retaliation to lions preying upon cattle. Open parks show little improvement for species being cared for within. However, fenced in parks do a much better job. Fenced in habitats keep humans and animals out of contact pretty well and are much cheaper to maintain. This alternative conservation method shows steady improvement for lions on the inside. The only hope for future lions may lay within a fence if we dont do something to protect Africa's natural habitats from the growing agriculture industry. Fenced in parks may not be too slightly but they are the best way to ensure a steady survival for lion populations.
NOS Themes:
-science is collaborative. It takes many organizations to fund and continue conservation efforts
-science is observable. It's easy to recognize the difference in results between two kinds of conservation.
Article URL:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130305174625.htm
I did not realize that the population of Africa was increasing at such an alarming rate. I thought that thanks to the conservation parks the lions' population was actually slowly increasing.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that the population of Africa was increasing at such an alarming rate. I thought that thanks to the conservation parks the lions' population was actually slowly increasing. However many sources say you are right.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.defenders.org/african-lion/basic-facts
The fact that the lion population is in danger is a really strange thought to me. I would have never guessed that they ever would have the possibility of becoming extinct. The lion species has always seemed untouchable to me. (especially because of the movie "The Lion King".) The lion population in Africa has been reduced by half since the early 1950s. Today, fewer than 21,000 remain in all of Africa. This fact is from http://www.defenders.org/african-lion/basic-facts
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