The extinct subspecies is the barbarian lion

The animal world of our planet was diverse at all times. But, unfortunately, the populations of some fauna species are declining. Previously, the main factor in reducing population was climate change and habitat conditions. But recently, the cause of the extinction of many species has become man. Unfortunately, with his "help" some rare animals disappeared irrevocably. These include the Barbarian lion, which will be discussed in this article.

Extinction

The predator lived in Africa, in the northern regions of the Sahara desert, and in the territory from Egypt to Morocco. Also the barbarian lion had other names - Atlas and Nubian. Previously, it was the largest subspecies among its feline counterparts.

Karl Linnaeus in 1758, it was he who was used for the classification, external description and behavior of lions.

The number of predators decreased sharply in the mid-17th century. Already at the beginning of the 18th century. He practically disappeared from the Sahara (Africa). Only a few individuals continued to live in a small area of the northwestern areas of the desert.

Received at that time a great popularity of firearms put an end to the population. Many hunters went to these areas for a valuable trophy. There was a purposeful policy of destroying an endangered predator.

In the wild, the last representative of this subspecies was shot in 1922 in Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains. From now on, it is considered extinct.

There is a picture of the last barbarian lion. The photo was taken in Algiers in 1893.

Now it is recognized as completely extinct, and only in zoos can you see individuals originating from the Barbarian lion, but they can not be called purebloods.

Restoration of the population

Some scientists talk about the revival of the subspecies, but it will be extremely difficult to implement in practice. There were suggestions that individual specimens could remain in the princes of the royal family of Morocco.

However, a team of scientists led by Dr. Barnett conducted research, and it was proved that in our time there are no purebred individuals. This is a big obstacle in the recovery of the population.

External Description

It was a very large predator, distinguished among the representatives of its species. A distinctive feature of the Barbarian lion was a dense mane of dark color, which went far to the back, and hung down on the stomach.

According to the latest research of scientists, this appearance, most likely, was adaptation to cold living conditions. Although earlier it was believed that such a phenotype was simply a feature of the subspecies.

Male individuals of this predator weighed 160-250 kg, some reached 270 kg and in length up to 3 m. Females were much smaller - up to 2 m and from 100 to 170 kg.

Lifestyle

Lean food changed the lifestyle of the barbarian lion. Its representatives did not create flocks or even pairs, as did their other kindreds. Predator preferred to live in complete solitude. The Barbarian lion was also found in the forests of the Atlas Mountains.

It was a very strong animal, which during the hunt initially pursued its prey. Before the immediate attack, he sneaked up to his victim. At a distance of 30 meters went on the attack. He did it with a quick leap. As a prey, such large animals as boars, deer, buffaloes, local subspecies of bobalov and zebra usually acted. A small animal, a Barbarian lion, could have been killed with one paw, but more often such a method as strangulation was used.

The main threat to the predator was only man.

Interesting Facts

It is known that in ancient Rome, this subspecies was used to participate in battles with gladiators. Also, a barbarian lion was released into the arena against the Turanian tiger, which is also now an extinct animal. Their battle was a kind of amusing event of that time.

In 1970, the monarch Hassan II from Morocco gave a zoo to the Rabbi Zoo, which, according to the description, was more like a barbarian. However, it was not a pureblood copy. By 1998, there were already 52 of his descendants from females of different subspecies of the lion.

Nowadays in the zoo of Addis Ababa there are 11 predator animals that are descendants of those animals that were in the personal property of the Emperor Haile-Selassie I. But they are less and less like their ancient great ancestor.

It is known that in the London Zoo in the second half of the 19th century there lived a thoroughbred barbarian lion named Sultan.

There is an assumption that in modern circuses you can meet a predator with the genes of a majestic grandparent.

In many countries there are sculptures of a lion. Constructed at different times, they always personified qualities such as majesty, power and authority. Perhaps, in the design of some specimens as an image, a Barbarian lion was used. The monument to this graceful predator can be seen in Morocco, in the city of Ifran. Stone lion is a symbol of this city.