African Lions Are Disappearing

(Reposted from an email mom received from IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare)

African lions are disappearing.

Since 1980, the population of African lions has dropped by nearly 50%. They've been eliminated from 78% of their historic range. And they face extinction throughout much of their habitat.
There are several causes of their disappearance, including loss of habitat, loss of prey, and the impact of disease -- but one particular cause is one you can help us reverse.
The Lion as Trophy
Trophy hunting of lions has more than doubled in the past decade.
The United States is, by far, the largest importer of lions and lion parts. A staggering 64% of lion and lion parts are imported to the US - lion skulls that sit on mantles, lion skins that hang from walls, and lion rugs spread out across floors - all with no consideration of the cruelty and unsustainability of these "trophies."
Clearly, the disappearance of the African lion has reached crisis status. But there is hope - one simple and significant act that can immediately reverse this march towards extinction.
Help Lions Make the List
Listing the African lion as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act would generally ban the import of lions and lion parts into the US, and be crucial in helping reverse their steep and alarming decline.
IFAW has joined with several other leading non-profits to petition the US government to list the African lion as Endangered.
And now we need your help.
IFAW is collecting messages of support for this listing to be submitted to Secretary of the Interior, Kenneth Salazar.
Please send your message now (I have suggested some wording for you, but please feel free to add your personal and respectful comments).
Together we can end this disappearing act and restore this majestic species to savannas across Africa.

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SIGN THE PETITION

Fred O'Regan
IFAW President

p.s. You might think such a regal and charismatic species would be protected, but on the contrary, lions are only protected in 5% of their current range. Please act now to help us save Lions from cruel and unsustainable trophy hunting.