Western hunts push Africa’s remaining 23,000 captive lions to extinction

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 9: Lions taken from their natural habitats in Africa and raised in captivity are being killed to entertain tourists, predominantly from Western countries, with the United States as a major contributor.Thousands of captive lions, who spend their lives entertaining tourists behind steel bars, are ultimately killed under the guise of hunting events.In the past century, wild lions have lost much of their population and habitat due to human activities. Today, they are struggling to survive in Africa's rapidly disappearing savannas.At the beginning of the last century, it was estimated that there were about 200,000 wild lions, according to the Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. By the end of the 20th century, that number had plummeted to around 33,000 due to hunting and other human activities.Since 2001, the lion population has decreased by 43%. Today, only about 23,000 wild lions remain.Having lost nearly 95% of their historical natural habitats, the remaining lions primarily live in well-protected national parks in Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Population estimates of global lion numbers do not include lions living in captivity.Captive lions are those bred on special farms for commercial purposes, having been removed from their natural habitats.These lions lack the hunting skills necessary for survival in the wild and are often fearless of humans.South Africa hosts one of the largest lion populations in the world, including about 3,500 wild lions. It is also home to a significant number of captive lions.(Footage by Murat Ozgur Guvendik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)