Iconic wildlife not native to the US Lions

This series of galleries - each with a map - is just here as a reminder for anyone who might need it 🤷😏

Nearly all wild lions live in Africa, scattered across the continent south of the Sahara. The only exception is an isolated population of Asiatic lions that holds out in India’s Gir Forest.

Lions are not native to the USA.

Countries with wild lions

A map showing the estimated worldwide lion population in 2025

Landscape gallery

Two lions nuzzling their faces together in a tender close-up

Male lion yawning with mouth wide open, showing large canine teeth against green foliage

Lion cub resting its chin on another lion's back, gazing sleepily at the camera

Lioness and male lion standing together on a dirt path, both looking directly at the camera

Lioness stretching playfully towards a male lion lying on green grass

Two lionesses perched on a large tree branch surrounded by green foliage

Close-up portrait of a male lion with a thick dark mane, lying in golden grass

Two male lions lying on their backs side by side on dry ground, manes spread out

Male lion with wind-blown dark mane resting on a large rock against a clear blue sky

Lioness standing in green grassland watching a herd of zebras walking in the background

Pride of lionesses and cubs resting together on green grass, a cub nestled against its mother

Lioness feeding on a kill on the ground, low-angle shot with woodland behind

Young male lion with bloodied face looking up from feeding on a giraffe carcass

Two lion cubs on a rock — one sitting upright keeping watch, the other sleeping

Male lion standing over a wildebeest kill on open savanna with acacia trees

Lioness standing alert in tall dry golden grass, looking to the right

Lioness feeding on a zebra carcass on grass with green bushes behind

Male lion and lioness mating near scrubby bushes

Male lion lying on grass with a cub sheltering between his front legs at sunset

Lioness leading four cubs through tall golden grass, all looking towards the camera

Male lion and lioness mating in tall dry grass, close-up

Young lion cub peering through green grass and leaves, looking directly at the camera

Young lioness drinking from a waterhole, her reflection visible in the still water

Lioness walking past a seated cub on dry ground with green bushes behind

Portrait gallery

Extreme close-up of a young lion's face sleeping peacefully in dry grass, eyes shut, whiskers and nose filling the frame

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Young lioness walking directly towards the camera on a muddy dirt road at dusk, eyes locked on the viewer

Nairobi, Kenya

Tight portrait of a battle-scarred male lion staring straight at the camera with piercing amber eyes, dark mane framing his weathered face

Serengeti, Tanzania

Male lion standing broadside in tall green grass, turning to stare directly at the camera with an intense gaze

South Africa

Male lion walking through dry golden grass with wind ruffling his dark mane, mouth open in a yawn or call

Kruger Park, South Africa

Male lion snarling with teeth fully bared and nose wrinkled in a fierce display, close-up of face and open jaws

Serengeti, Tanzania

Male lion stalking low through tall grass and wildflowers with a lake or pan visible in the background, head down, dark mane flowing

Nairobi, Kenya

Male lion nuzzling the top of a lioness's head as she lies contentedly at his feet on dry ground

Tanzania

Young male lion resting on white sand dunes at sunset, paw prints trailing into the foreground, tufts of dune grass around him

Male lion standing in green scrubland beneath a large acacia tree, looking towards the camera in warm golden light

Close-up of a lioness with mouth slightly open, looking to the right against a backdrop of green trees

South Africa

Close-up of a male lion's face emerging from green grass, golden mane windswept, looking slightly downward with a calm expression

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Detailed lion population estimates

Country	Est. pop.	Notes
Tanzania	<5,360	Largely in Serengeti/Mara, Selous Game Reserve/Nyerere National Park and Ruaha/Rungwa.
South Africa	<1,900	Wild lions occur in only two locations - most in Kruger National Park in the east with the rest in Kalahari/Gemsbok National Park in the far northwest.
Kenya	<1,588	Data gathered in 2020 by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute and the Kenya Wildlife Service estimated 2,489 lions. However, 901 of these (mainly residing in poor lion habitat in northern Kenya) were estimated by guesses, and are therefore here discounted.
Botswana	~1,445
Zambia	<1,163	Mainly in Kafue, Luangwa, and Lower Zambezi, and a population has been introduced to Liuwa Plains.
Mozambique	<996	A highly dubious figure.
Ethiopia	<915	Likely much lower.
India	891*	Mainly in the Gir forest. Lions have now dispersed and established separate satellite populations outside the Gir region and are found in 11 districts in Gujarat.
Zimbabwe	<814	Mainly in Hwange National Park, with smaller populations in Mana Pools and Gonarezhou. Lions in the fenced and privately owned Bubye Valley Conservancy are heavily managed and maintained largely for trophy hunting - these lions are not included here.
Namibia	<457	The only significant lion population occurs in Etosha National Park, which could contain about 400 lions.
Uganda	<302	Mainly in the widely separated Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo and Murchison Falls National Parks.
Cameroon	<120	Only in Bouba Njida National Park is there considered to be a somewhat viable population of about 60 animals.
Malawi	<92	Mainly in the southern Majete Wildlife Reserve. Largely the result of re-introductions from South Africa.
Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Mali	70-100	Largely located in Burkina Faso.
Central African Republic	<50	A guesstimate places about 50 lions in the Chinko Nature Reserve.
Nigeria	<50	Becoming non-viable. Lions only occur in two widely separated protected areas - Kainji Lake National Park and Yankari Game Reserve.
Senegal	<37	Exclusively in Niokolo-Koba National Park. Considered highly important to the survival of western African lions, which are highly genetically distinct from eastern and southern African lions (more related to Indian lions).
Angola	30
DR Congo	unknown
Guinea	unknown
Sudan	essentially extinct	It is thought that about 30 lions live in Dinder National Park.
Chad	effectively extinct
Somalia	essentially extinct
South Sudan	essentially extinct

Sources

Africa

Lion Aid - A 2025 Synthesis of Lion Numbers in Africa and Range States’ Capabilities to Conserve their Lion Populations - News

Lion Aid - How many wild lions left on the entire African continent? - News

A note on the data

It became clear that most lion population statistics are based on outdated or speculative information. The above-referenced comprehensive July 2025 synthesis by the charity Lion Aid highlights this critical issue directly:

It is highly disappointing to note the quality of surveys involved in estimating lion populations. Very few are scientifically rigorous. Some surveys include cubs while others do not. Most lion estimates are still based on “guesses”.

– Lion Aid, July 2025 Report

The report further explains that their own numbers are based on a more cautious and critical evaluation, rather than accepting unsubstantiated claims:

We fully expect our numbers will be challenged. But we believe it is better to provide a realistic assessment than to continue quoting numbers provided by range states that have little basis in fact… We are not being alarmist, but we are being realistic based on available information and our own projections based on a diversity of factors.

– Lion Aid, July 2025 Report

Given this transparent approach to a complex data problem, I have chosen, for Africa, to use Lion Aid’s 2025 figures exclusively. They appear to be the most rigorously compiled and honestly presented estimates currently available.

Note that these figures are significantly lower than those found on many other platforms. The Lion Aid report estimates a total continental population of 13,356 wild lions, whereas most other conservation bodies and wildlife sources typically cite figures in the range of 20,000 to 25,000:

IUCN Cat Specialist Group States that in 2023, the lion population in Africa was estimated at approximately between 22,000 and 25,000 adult and subadult lions. www.catsg.org/living-species-lions

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) The WWF states that with around 23,000 African lions left in the wild, they are officially classified as ‘vulnerable’. www.wwf.org.uk/learn/wildlife/african-lions

BBC News In an April 2023 article, a conservation expert is quoted stating that there are about 22,000-24,000 lions left. www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65342010

Endangered Wildlife Trust This organisation, which leads IUCN Red List assessments for lions, reported in 2024 that the current population is estimated to be between 22,000 and 25,000. ewt.org/iucn-red-list-threatened-species-conservation/

Associated Press In an August 2023 video report (YouTube), a wildlife conservationist states the current population is around 20,000.

Mongabay A June 2023 article from this respected environmental science news platform quotes a conservation director stating that lion populations have plummeted to around 20,000. news.mongabay.com/2023/06/return-of-the-lions-large-protected-areas-in-africa-attract-apex-predator/

Global Conservation This organisation’s page on African lions says that with only around 20,000 in the wild, they’re now officially classified as “Vulnerable”. globalconservation.org/endangered-species/african-lion

The Kevin Richardson Foundation The foundation’s website provides a figure of 22,000 as the estimated number of lions remaining in Africa. kevinrichardsonfoundation.org

*India

India’s lion numbers soar: Why are some conservationists worried? | Wildlife News | Al Jazeera

Note

Scientists told The Wire that while the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat may have indeed risen, the use of out-dated and flawed methodology in the latest lion census means that its findings need to be taken with a dollop of salt.

– The Wire, August 2025

World Lion Day: India Celebrates, But How Are Its Lions Really Doing? - The Wire

Big thanks to all the photographers 🕺💃

As I’m sure you already know

A bloke walks into a pub with a giraffe and orders them both a pint.

They keep at it for a few hours and by closing time the giraffe is smashed out of its head and passed out on the floor.

The bloke goes to leave but the barman says, “Oi. You can’t leave that lying there.”

He says, “That’s not a lion, it’s a giraffe.”

Credit: a jovial Jock talking into an MTV microphone in Amsterdam some time in ancient history