In response to a large decline of the lion population in Africa over the past two decades, President Barack Obama and his administration is now to extend Endangered Species Act protections for two breeds of lions. This includes new rules which seeks to protect lions all over the world.
Listings are yet to be announced this coming Monday, which may include a special order that will tackle the killing of a well-known lion named Cecil. The crime committed against the animal occurred in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Fish and Wildlife Service carries an order that will deny a permit to import a sport-hunted lion to anyone who has been pleaded guilty or convicted to violating the state or federal wildlife laws. The same group ensures that violators of wildlife laws shall not reap future benefits from importing wildlife products.
Back in October 2014, Fish and Wildlife Service already proposed an order to list African lions as threatened. Obama's administration announced it would protect lions in Africa long before the killing of Cecil the lion took place and caught the public's attention.
It was Walter Palmer who shot Cecil with a bow and arrow. He was a dentist in Minnesota and he had pleaded guilty in 2008 to making false statements to the Fish and Wildlife Service about a black bear being shot fatally in Wisconsin - which is outside an authorize hunting zone.
Fish and Wildlife Service also determined that there are two subspecies of lions live in Africa. One out of the two subspecies is primarily found in central and western countries. These lions are more genetically related to the Asiatic lion. According to reports, there are only 1,400 remain in India and Africa. The group or agency is listing such lions as endangered and near to extinction.
Al Jazeera reported that the Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species as endangered or threatened regardless of the country where they live. "If we want to ensure that healthy lion populations continue to roam the Africa savannas and forests of India, it's up to all of us - not just the people of Africa and India - to take action," said Dan Ashe, the agency's director.
Barack Obama's administration has indeed won the hearts of many wildlife lovers. This also encourages not only Africa but the whole world in improving lion management programs.
