World Lion Day is celebrated every year on August 9th to raise awareness about the importance of saving lions and how important they are to the ecosystem. In this article, we take a look at countries where lions still exist.

Gir National Park is India’s largest lion park (Image credit: NimTree/500px/Getty Images)

New Delhi: World Lion Day aims to raise awareness about lion conservation. It also aims to highlight their importance in the ecosystem and the urgent need to protect them from various threats. The day reminds us how important lions are in maintaining ecological balance and promoting conservation initiatives. On this occasion, we would like to inform you about where to find lions around the world.

Where can you find Lions?

Lions once populated much of Europe, Africa and Asia. Today, however, they have disappeared from 94 percent of their original territory and are found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and India. In Africa, lions are found in West and Central Africa, East Africa and South Africa, while Asiatic lions are restricted to India’s Gir National Park in Gujarat.

List of countries where Lions occur

• India
• Tanzania
• South Africa
• Botswana
• Kenya
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Angola
• Uganda
• Ethiopia
• Malawi
• Benin
• Burkina-Faso
• Chad
• Senegal
• Sudan
• Cameroon
• Niger
• Central African Republic

Asian lions

India is home to the Asiatic lion, an endangered species found mainly in the Gir National Park in Gujarat. More than 600 of these lions live in this area. Asiatic lions used to live in many places, including the forests of North Africa, Northern Greece, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and India. However, their numbers decreased due to hunting and weapons. By the 19th century, lions were only found in the Gir National Park.

Places in India where lions are found

• Gir National Park, Gujarat
• Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
• Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
• Ambardi Safari Park, Gujarat
• Devalia Safari Park, Gujarat
• Etawah Safari Park, Uttar Pradesh
• North Bengal Wildlife Park, West Bengal

African lions

Lion populations in West and Central Africa have declined sharply. Almost all populations are at risk of declining by 50 percent over the next 20 years, with bushmeat hunting and open reserves contributing factors. East Africa has one of the largest lion populations on the continent, but experts say there is a 37 percent chance of a significant decline due to inadequate protection and increasing populations. In southern Africa, lion populations have increased in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, partly due to well-managed protected areas with fences. However, habitat loss and lack of space remain concerns.

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