Did you know that Africa’s lion population has declined by at least 50% in only 20 years?

When will people start caring? In the 1980’s the African lion population was a strong estimation of 150,000-200,000, but today the numbers have crashed to a mere range of between 18,000 and 25,000, and if something isn’t done soon it will continue to decline until we are at risk of losing one of Africa’s most iconic animals, because we failed to act.

Due to causes such as retaliatory killings, over exploitation by trophy hunters, rapidly increasing loss of habitat (they now only cover about 1/4 of their historic range) and a flourishing trade largely fuelled by primitive myths – lion bone wine anyone? the African lion faces a bleak future unless we try to amend the damage we have done now. Two-thirds of Africa’s lion population are not yet sufficiently protected, but there is hope. On March 1st 2011, a coalition of wildlife and conservation organizations (Born Free USA, Born Free Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, The Fund for Animals, Human Society International, The Humane Society of the United States, and IFAW) petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to list the African Lion as an endangered species (currently listed as vulnerable) according to the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). Read the full petition here.

But what difference will it really make? Well actually a big difference! The move to endangered will prohibit the importation of African lions and their parts to the United States, who are currently the world’s largest importers threatening these big cats. Equally, the change in classification will help raise awareness of the plight of these majestic animals, and encourage CHANGE.

Get involved with the National Geographic’s Cause an Uproar campaign, and check out their useful lion decline time line here.

Make sure  you watch this video because for every person who views it the National Geographic have pledged to donate $0.10 (until the video hits a million views) to help the cause of these vunerable animals.