At Dvůr Králové Safari Park in the Czech Republic, four Barbary lion cubs—a rare and endangered subspecies—were recently born, marking an important step in efforts to preserve this species that has disappeared from the wild.
The cubs, three females and one male, were observed playing in their outdoor enclosure under the careful watch of their parents, Khalila and Bart.
These young lions are part of a global conservation program that aims to safeguard the species through coordinated efforts in zoos worldwide. Soon, the cubs will be relocated to other facilities, including the Beersheba zoo in Israel, to support breeding and survival efforts.
Though extinct in their natural habitat, plans are underway to explore the possibility of reintroducing Barbary lions back into the wild. Dvůr Králové’s Deputy Director, Jaroslav Hyjánek, emphasized that while such a reintroduction remains a distant goal, initial discussions have taken place, particularly with Moroccan authorities.
The Barbary lion once roamed freely across northern Africa, including the Atlas Mountains, and was long regarded as a symbol of strength. However, human activities—including hunting by gladiators in Roman times, habitat loss, and overhunting—led to its extinction in the wild by the mid-20th century. The last confirmed wild sighting was in 1925, with the final individual killed in 1942, and small populations lingering until the 1960s.
Currently, fewer than 200 Barbary lions survive in captivity worldwide.
Following talks with Morocco, which has not dismissed the idea of bringing the lions back, an expert conference is planned for late 2025 or early 2026. The goal is to assess the feasibility of reintroducing the lions to a national park in the Atlas Mountains.
Such a reintroduction faces many challenges, including ensuring the protection of the lions, maintaining a healthy prey population, and securing support from local communities. Since the species has been absent for decades, careful planning will be required to create a sustainable environment.
Hyjánek stressed the importance of having a long-term vision for endangered species, noting that without such goals, conservation efforts like zoos would lose their purpose.
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