| Asiatic lion | |
|---|---|
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| Male Asiatic lion in Gir National Park | |
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| Female with cub | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Pantherinae |
| Genus: | Panthera |
| Species: | P. leo |
| Subspecies: | P. l. leo |
| Population: | Asiatic lion |
| |
| Current range of the Asiatic lion | |
The Asiatic lion is a lion population of the subspecies Panthera leo leo. Until the 19th century, it occurred in Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River in Pakistan to the Bengal region and the Narmada River in Central India. Since the turn of the 20th century, its range has been restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat. The first scientific description of the Asiatic lion was published in 1826 by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer, who named it Felis leo persicus.
The population has steadily increased since 2010. In 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was conducted over an area of about 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi); the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, and in 2017 at 650 individuals.
- ^ Breitenmoser, U.; Mallon, D.P.; Ahmad Khan, J.; Driscoll, C. (2023). "Panthera leo (Asiatic subpopulation) (amended version of assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T247279613A247284471. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T247279613A247284471.en. Retrieved 27 January 2024.