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New species of lion discovered with an extravagant dark mane
New genetic evidence suggests that Ethiopian lions — long noted for their dark, flowing manes — actually represent a new species.
Tue, Nov 27 2012 at 3:15 AM
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Photo: aheavens/Flickr
It's not every day that a new species of lion is discovered, but exciting new DNA evidence collected by a team of researchers in Ethiopia has proven there is more than just one king of the jungle, reports Wildlife Extra News.
Some lion populations in Ethiopia have long been noted for their unusually large, dark, flowing manes, but biologists have always assumed these traits to be mere regional variations, not necessarily distinctive of a separate species. But according to DNA samples recently taken from lions at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa Zoo, the lions represent a genetically isolated population, distinct from all other lion populations in both Africa and Asia.
The Addis Ababa males' extravagant manes typically extend from the head, neck and chest all the way to the belly. Their thick locks and the darker coloration make them appear quite large, but they're actually smaller and more compact than most other lions.
The 15 lions tested for the study, which includes eight males and seven females, are descended from seven founder lions originally captured in southwestern Ethiopia in 1948 for the opening of the zoo. Unfortunately, lion population numbers have plummeted across Ethiopia since then, as only a few hundred lions, wild or captive, are thought to exist in the country. It's therefore possible that the lions harbored at the Addis Ababa Zoo are the last of their kind. For this reason especially, researchers have lobbied to get the Addis Ababa lions recognized as a vulnerable species, so that conservation action can be sanctioned. A captive breeding program is already under way.
Although these lions' manes are their most unique characteristic, it's unclear whether the manes can be effectively used as a general way of identifying the species. In other words, it's impossible to know exactly how widespread this lion species is in the wild, or even if any wild populations still exist, without further genetic research. Unfortunately, those beautiful manes, if they are representative of the species, could have been the population's undoing in the wild: poachers would probably be more likely to target them due to their locks.
There is a ray of hope, however. Lions with a similar appearance to those at Addis Ababa have been spotted roaming around an elephant sanctuary elsewhere in the country. Researchers are focusing on these populations for further research.
"A key question is which wild population did the zoo lions originate from and whether this wild population still exists; this would obviously make it a priority for conservation," said professor Michi Hofreiter of the Department of Biology at the University of York. "What is clear is that these lions did not originate in the zoo, but come from somewhere in the wild — but not from any of the populations for which comparative data is available."
Editor's note: We have temporarily removed the previously included video.
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What is the species name? It's never mentioned. :S
Interesting, great article. There's still a lot that we don't know about nature, even large mammals!
i just read about the etiopian zoo from deborahs comments They intentionally poison the cubs every year and send them to be stuffed This place is disgusting and NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!
how AWFUL that they are behind bars What a horrific place Concrete floors no grass no room to roam This zoo is disgusting and should be closed down Wild animals belong in the wild
If anyone gets a petition going---we can get many signatures.
ENOUGH ALREADY !!!!!! Let these magnificent animals go free---you have dione enough profiling them---now have a heart and allow them to run free the rest of their life. These pictures of these cats makes me angry and I weep for them. God would say--let my creatures go.
the "great white hunter" is the least of the wild animal's worries. Poaching is done by local Africans and visiting Chinese. The western society has practically nothing to do with the animals' dwindling numbers..
I, too, believe these are decended from the Barbary lions. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw the pic.
Get them out of cages
" .....and to give [their] reward ..... and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”
I have donated to a group called SPCA International, who rescues animals that have befriended our service people in Baghdad, among other things. But since they're international, I contacted them and asked if they can help. I bet it would have greater impact if they got the request from as many people as possible.
http://www.spcai.org/index.php/contact.html
It makes me sick that humans take animals prisoner and then kill them because their prison is too small ...
That is about the lamest video I have ever seen!!!
I agree w Nancy, i'm crying just watching these magnificant animals in cages like that.
So great to know we barely know nature, but the reality (and it makes me so sad and so angry) is that at the end, we are killing our only planet, and at the end us!
I was happy to hear about the new lion discovery but I watched the video and lost all joy. Too see these beautiful animals confined to concrete cages is the saddest thing I've seen.
This video makes me sad :( Poor babes.
I feel so bad for those beautiful creatures - NO animals except the human kind should ever be imprisoned in such appalling conditions.
How tragic and sad that these magnificent animals are condemned to a lifetime of imprisonment and how ignorant are those who come to see them and laugh at their cries. How about a petition to expose this particularly dreadful type of zoo and encourage people not to patronize it?
No wonder he's complaining, that cage is disgraceful. Do they have access to the outside? The researchers and animal welfare organisations should be investigating this zoo!
I hope they have a habitat for these lions and don't just keep them in a cage all the time!
It breaks my heart to see this beautiful animal in a small cage with not even anything to climb on or scratch. So cruel!
Oh, I agree! It's a shame the children coming to see them will think it's okay and grow up with the same lack of respect for animals shown here. These big cats need trees and grasses, with room to roam and play. This concrete cell is heartbreaking!
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