Endangered Species Of Algeria

Algerian wildlife is mostly composed of snakes, wild boars, jackals, gazelles and some few species of birds, leopards and cheetahs. It is also home to some endangered species, the most endangered being the lion.

The Barbary/Atlas lion( Panthera leo leo) is the nominate lion species in North Africa(Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco). The name of this species is derived from one of the native tribes in the region (Berbers) and also due to the fact that they used to stay in the Atlas Mountains. This subspecies of lions is believed to have become extinct from the wild in the 20^th century due to activities such as hunting. People who have ever seen them claim that they had very huge manes and these are what mostly attracted the hunters. Something very interesting is that many scientists believe the lion is extinct and yet there are others who claim that there are 90 lions alive in zoos including 35 in Rabat Morocco. This is quite incredible but nice anyway.

The reintroduction of the Atlas lions in their natural sphere is deemed a long-term project that would necessitate both significant human and financial efforts to achieve it. The former popularity of the Barbary Lion as a zoo animal provides the only hope to ever see it again in the wild in North Africa. Many zoos provide mating programmes, which help to increase the population of the species.

After years of research into the science of the Barbary lion and stories of surviving examples WildLink International, in collaboration with Oxford University, launched their ambitious International Barbary Lion Project. Oxford used the very latest DNA techniques to identify the DNA ?fingerprint? of the Barbary Lion subspecies, Researchers took bone samples from remains of Barbary Lions in museums across Europe. By March 2010, two Barbary lion cubs had been moved to the Texas zoo in Victoria.

I also think that prominent companies like Walt Disney which uses a lion in its logo (Metro-Golden Mayer logo) can further support this cause.  I also appreciate Fly Emirates which took a step and painted its planes with photos of endangered species. I believe this was a very good way of creating awareness among people.

References:

http://the viewfrommorocco.blogspot.com/2013/07/barbary-lions-may-come-back-to-moroccos.html?=1

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/wildlife-of-Algeria

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary-lion