AR-News: (AU) African lion dying out

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Danny Buttler 
environment reporter
03apr04

THE King of the Beasts may soon abdicate his throne.

Africa's famed lions are nearing the point of no return, with some experts 
estimating there are as few as 10,000 of the peak predators left in the wild. 
While the population is adequate to maintain the species, the rate of decline 
worries scientists. 
An estimated 250,000 lions were roaming the savannah just 20 years ago, but 
their human neighbour's insatiable appetite for land has forced the species 
into a rapid downward spiral. 
Lions are not the only threatened carnivores: leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and 
African hunting dogs also face unprecedented pressure. 



full story:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9169943%255E663,00.h
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