Lions and Tigers in India

[Pckts]

His entire theory may not be right because anybody who is presenting anything new, may have a few "right or wrong" things, but as a whole it is far more reasonable to me to believe that Gir lions are simply a descendent of african lions brought over by alexander and many others to use in hunts, fights, etc.... Wether looking at their genetically almost identical make up, deformaties from inbreeding, reproductive capabilities, as well as their relatively identical body size and structure, it makes much more sense for me to believe they are infact a shell of their once wild cousins from africa. It is like the cape lion which was thought of as a different sub species but is now known for not being a different sub species to other southern lions. Or crater lion which is actually just transient lions from other areas.
Same goes for the tiger, the siberian and caspian are believed to be two different subspecies but we are finding out that they are probably the same or almost the same cat.

The barbary lion may be a different story, but even so, it is still closely related to the Atlas lion. The body size and structure is also again, very typical of any lion sub species. We also know that the Mane, which is the old identifier of different lion sub species is easily changed due to climate or living situation.
Just a quick example

*This image is copyright of its original author

Here you can see this male from Harbin, now according to mane description, this lion would be a cape lion if I am correct. Gaute can confirm.
But I say cape because cape lions have large manes with a mane that is on their bellies and doesn't run directly from the front to the back like the alleged Barbary.

But all Harbin lions are african lion hybrids or s. african lions I believe but they still grow large thick manes as well as longer coats on their bodies. That is proof of a adaption to the tempature. Reply