There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(04-22-2014, 03:42 AM)'GrizzlyClaws' Wrote: I hope they could re-introduce the Asian lions back to its pre-historical/historical natural habitat in Europe/North Africa/West Asia/Central-West Africa.
The habitat has changed a lot since the last century. Most of the ancient wild areas are full of humans and they will not share anything, especially to a large predator like the lion.
About the reintroduction in Europe, that is practically impossible. There are no longer wild areas in Europe that can sustain a large hyper-carnivore like the lion. Greece, the only home of the true lion (Panthera leo) in Europe, is complete anthropomorphized, so there is no form to introduce a lion in this place.
West Asia is a very problematic area, specially by the ultra-religious groups of Muslims. If they are killing each other, don't you think that they will not even think twice in killing a lion? West Asia is out of question, in fact, check that the presented reintroduction programs of tigers in the Caucasus ignore Iran and Afghanistan.
The north of Africa is willing to create habitats to reintroduce wild lions, at least from the point of view of the government. I think they will allow it because, like the lions in India, it will be a good political and touristic incentive to the area. They will have the monopoly of the last wild lions in the Mediterranean. On the other hand, the few remnant populations of lions in West and Central Africa still exist in the wild with relative good habitat, they need to be protected, and here there is no point of discussion.
At the end, it will be possible to reconstruct the lion range in the Atlantic-Mediterranean region, but there is not possible to restore them in Europe and the Middle East of Asia.