Three Unlikely Friends, and What the Government Did to Them

The majestic trio go by the names of Leo (the lion), Baloo (the bear),
Shere Khan (the tiger).

At first glance, it may seem like an American black bear, a Bengal tiger, and an African lion might not have anything in common, but these three individuals were victims of neglect and animal cruelty as cubs, finding solace only in each other.

The lion, tiger, and bear had been owned by a drug dealer who did not properly care for them. Negligence left the animals in poor health with multiple injuries.  Finally, they were rescued.  This is their story.

Leo, Baloo, and Shere Khan (collectively referred to as BLT, which is pretty awesome, but I digress) were bought together as cubs by a presumably wealthy drug dealer. As you would assume, this drug dealer was very neglectful of the poor cubs.

The neglectful treatment of these creatures was discovered and they were taken in by the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, Georgia. Here, they were rehabilitated and cured of their many injuries. However, Baloo required a little more work.

Read the full story here.

Lions May Be Losing Their Reign in Uganda

Two male African lions recline in the tall grass in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.

As the largest predator in Africa, the lion has earned its place at the top of the food chain and the title “king of beasts.” But the reign of the noble lion could be coming to a close in parts of Uganda, a new study suggests.

One of the reasons for the lion’s decline in this part of Africa is poisoning by local ranchers, whose livestock are frequently killed by lions, and other human-related conflicts.

Researchers from the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland analyzed the density and population distribution of the African lion in three of Uganda’s national parks.

Read the full story here.

Opinion: African Lions Should Not Be Listed as Endangered

A lioness surveys the landscape in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Can lion hunting support conservation?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition from several animal rights groups to place the African lion on the list of endangered species. By law, species are to be placed on that list only when the Fish and Wildlife Service determines that they are currently “in danger of extinction.” In an attempt to garner support for the petition, a proponent claimed recently that the lion is “in danger of disappearing in our lifetimes.”

(Related: “Opinion: Why Are We Still Hunting Lions?“)

Is the condition of the lion really that dire? Fortunately, the most recent scientific data say no. A comprehensive study published last December concluded that there are between 32,000 and 35,000 lions living in the wild in Africa. The lion population is spread across 27 countries, with nine countries having populations of at least 1,000 lions. (See “The Serengeti Lion.”)

Of greatest significance is the fact that 24,000 of the lions, which is at least 68 percent of the total population, live in what the study terms “strongholds.” Strongholds are areas that meet “the necessary requirements for [the] long-term viability” of their lion populations.

Read the full story here.

Charles the Lion Dog

The real and imaginary story of Charles – a lovable “labradoodle” who was mistaken for a lion, and became famous worldwide.

In real life Charles the Lion Dog became an international sensation when he was mistaken for an actual lion wandering the streets of Norfolk, Virginia. His playful owner, Daniel Painter, had groomed the very furry labrador/poodle mix to leave a longer “mane” and a tufted tail resulting in the uncanny resemblance to a lion. When Charles took an impromptu and unaccompanied stroll one morning along streets near the city zoo, several Norfolk residents couldn’t believe their eyes and quickly dialed 911 to report an escaped lion. Police sorted out this most peculiar case of mistaken identity and everyone had a good laugh. Then the local paper saw the police report and ran a story. That was picked up by the local TV news, which was picked up by the national media, which went viral on social media – and suddenly Charles was an international celebrity with appearances on Good Morning America and CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and nearly a million-and-a-half views on various videos on YouTube and more than 56,000 friends on his own Facebook page!

Charles the Lion Dog is aimed at young, emerging readers – but will certainly be enjoyed by children of all ages. It is the whimsical story of 7-year-old Daniel who has always wanted a lion for a pet.

His parents try unsuccessfully to explain to Daniel why that isn’t a good idea, suggesting more traditional pet choices, but the youngster isn’t dissuaded. One day while visiting the Humane Society in the hopes of maybe finding Daniel a rescue dog, his frustrated parents have a brilliant idea. They adopt a very raggedy, unkempt labradoodle who desperately needs a home to avoid an untimely demise. They take the dog to the groomer with specific instructions on how to clean up this lovable bundle of fur. The next day, when they present their son with his uniquely coiffed pet, Daniel is smitten. He finally has his lion!

For more information on this Kickstarter Project, click here:

Charles the Lion Dog