African lions on brink of extinction, US Fish and Wildlife says

[truebluefan]

The US Fish and Wildlife Service revealed Monday that African lions are teetering on the brink of extinction, urging the animal to be placed on the Endangered Species list.

In addition to the possibility of categorizing the African lion as endangered, the US State Department has also proposed a new rule to aid in protecting the threatened species. Upon approval, the rule would criminalize selling products in the United States used to hunt lions. Zoological societies and wildlife preserves would be exempt from this rule.

Sports hunting is a popular pastime in the US, with American hunters going on safari taking pains to import their trophies back home. Lion hunters also tend to go to Africa to bag other big game such as elephants and rhinoceros, according to a recent report on the subject.

Read more http://www.betawired.com/african-lions-on-brink-of-extinction-us-fish-wildlife-says/1411016/