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Barbary lion
Panthera leo leo
Barbary lions are not as tall as their southern African and Asian cousins but they are longer and more solid.
They have a thick mane which extends along their chests and stomachs.
Barbary lions were used by the Ancient Romans in gladiatorial combats and are believed to be closely related to the now-extinct European lion and the Asian lion.
They are extinct in the wild.
Diet
When they lived in the wild, Barbary lions hunted large mammals such as deer and gazelle.
Size
The lions stand one metre high at the shoulder. They are up to 3.5 metres long and they can weigh up to 230 kilograms.
Location
When they lived in the wild, Barbary lions were found in the mountain forests of north Africa.
EEP = European Endangered Species Programme
CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature
ESB = European Studbook
Conservation status
Barbary lions are extinct in the wild.
Threats
Deforestation was the biggest factor in the lions’ extinction.
They were also hunted for sport and many were killed during civil wars.
Current population
Barbary lions are extinct in the wild.
Zoo population
There is currently no EEP for Barbary lions. There are less than 40 lions living in zoos around the world.
