A Glimpse of What We’ve Lost: The Barbary Lion
by Mat McDermott
Formerly found from Morocco to Egypt, the Barbary lion (also known as the Atlas lion or Nubian lion) was the largest and heaviest of the lion subspecies. Unlike other lions, due to scarcity of food in its habitat, the Barbary lion did not live in prides. The last wild Barbary lion was shot in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco in 1922. However, questions remain about whether some lions held in captivity at zoos or in circuses may be descendants of the Barbary lion. Historical note: Lions used in gladiatorial combat in Roman times were most likely Barbary lions. The photo above dates from 1893 and was taken in Algeria.
(via: TreeHugger) (photo: Sir Alfred Edward Pease, 1893)
Reblogged from fauna
