The majestic lion that once roamed southern Europe, Asia, and Africa is largely gone today.
Its numbers has decreased by at least 43 percent since the early 1990s and populations today thrive only in designated protected areas.
While the strength, speed, and ferocity of lions has been part of human culture and art for thousands of years, the lion's decline is likely caused by its admirers, as habitat loss and human conflicts chip away at the lion's range. In the 1950s, the lion population was estimated at 200,000. Today estimates vary, but the African Wildlife Foundations sets the number at 23,000.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
