Like the Candian Grey Timber Wolf (Canis lupis), and many other carnivores besides, the lion (encompassing all sub-species) has been labelled a killing machine for previous incidents as a man-eater. The human race cannot accept that even domesticated dogs could kill them, therefore they consider large carnviores like these the emboidment of evil... Carnivores by nature will kill to survive. Humans are weaker than lions, therefore they are still valid prey items. Despite the fact that we may show more complex emotions that most carnivores, none can deny that all "beasts" hunt and kill for survival of themselves and future generations. Old grudges still exist in some communities of Africa that appear to be enough evidence of 'permission' to hunt lions for sport or to bypass laws against their killing. Children in western communities will forevermore be raised with imagery that will prevent them from saving this iconic species. The media especially will demonize anything that will turn it a quick profit, even their social behaviours - for example a recent television series claimed over 5 attacks in a conservation project, when the actual number was in fact, an absolute zero. The first step to conserving the lion is to change people's perspective of it. I am not asking anyone to suddenly say the lion is 100% safe to be around, but to accept that this is what they always have been is exactly what natural life is about.

Links