Since the release of the first Lion King film, nearly half of all lions have been lost. These magnificent big cats are now believed to be locally extinct in 16 African nations where they once thrived, and it may not be long before we have no lions left. They face many threats, top among them habitat loss and degradation, and conflict with people and their livestock.
http://https//blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-threatened-lions-can-teach-us-about-the-circle-of-life/