In March of 2011, Born Free USA, along with partner organizations, filed a petition with the U.S. Department of the Interior to list the African lion as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On December 21, 2015 – more than four years later – the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule listing lions in Central and Western Africa as Endangered, and lions in Southern and Eastern Africa as Threatened, with a special rule pending that would require certain conditions to be met for importation of any lion trophies, including that the country of origin has a scientifically-sound management program for the species. The final rule went into effect on January 22, 2016. Click here to read a summary of the ESA rule.
The trophy of a species listed as Endangered can be imported if it is thought to enhance the survival of the species. Thus, this final decision to list the African lion as Threatened in Southern and Eastern Africa puts significant responsibility on hunters to show that the nation of export is actively working to protect the long-term viability of the lion. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will no longer allow any lion imports specifically from canned hunting facilities in South Africa. Born Free USA opposes all lion killing, but this final decision should be considered a victory.
- Read the petition: Before the Secretary of the Interior Petition to List the African Lion (Panthera leo leo) as Endangered Pursuant to the U.S. Endangered Species Act
- Read the petition executive summary
- Listen to the lion ESA petition press conference (MP3 audio)
- Born Free USA’s statement on the petition to list the African Lion as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act: Conservation Risks and Threats to the Lion
- Summary of the ESA rule published December 23, 2015
- View the ESA petition timeline
- Press release: Victory at Last for The King of the Jungle: African Lion Protected Under Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- African lions ESA petition: media coverage
- NBC News: “African lions could end up on U.S. endangered species list”