Dar es Salaam. African lions, long celebrated as symbols of strength and pride, are now facing the grim possibility of extinction. Conservation scientists say their survival is increasingly threatened by poaching, conflicts with humans, and the steady disappearance of their natural prey.
The latest African Lion Population Analysis Report 2025 by LionAid paints a worrying picture. It estimates there are just over 13,000 lions left in eastern and southern Africa, while in western and central Africa the number has dropped to a mere 342.
Only a handful of strongholds remain, in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
The reasons for this decline are varied, but all are linked to human activity. Expanding towns and farms are eating away at natural habitats. Infrastructure projects cut across migration routes, while the wild animals lions depend on for food are disappearing.
At the same time, lions are often killed in retaliation when they attack livestock, and poachers hunt them for body parts used in traditional medicine or sold illegally.
Scientists warn that the loss of lions would have far-reaching consequences. As top predators, lions play a critical role in keeping ecosystems in balance. Their presence shapes the savannas, prevents overgrazing, and supports countless other species.
Beyond ecology, lions are a cornerstone of Africa’s tourism industry. Nearly 80 percent of international visitors say wildlife is their main reason for traveling to the continent, and tourism accounts for about 8.5 percent of Africa’s GDP. If lions disappear, the economic losses could be immense.
The report calls for urgent action to turn the tide. Protecting natural habitats, working more closely with local communities, and tightening law enforcement against poaching are seen as essential steps. Promoting responsible tourism is also part of the solution, since entry fees to parks and reserves directly support conservation work.
Ordinary citizens, too, can play a role by reporting poaching and supporting community efforts to protect wildlife.
Figures from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) underline the urgency. Lion populations continue to decline, and recovery rates remain low, between 23 and 33 percent.
Without immediate and coordinated efforts, conservationists fear that one of Africa’s most iconic animals could vanish within a generation.