Asiatic Lions, African lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) vs Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)

Asiatic Lions

Context (IE): Asiatic lions have expanded their territory to one more district, the Botad district.
Botad District is situated in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
It is bordered by Bhavnagar District to the east, Surendranagar District to the north, Amreli District to the west, and Ahmedabad District to the northeast.
To its east lies the Rann of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat.

Lion is the second largest cat species in the world. It is divided into two subspecies: the African lion and the Asiatic lion (Persian or Indian Lion).

Difference between African lion and Asiatic lion
African lion *(Panthera leo melanochaita)*	*Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)*
Bigger than the Asiatic lion.	Slightly smaller than the African lion.
Males have relatively short, sparse and darker manes.	Males have a fuller mane.
Males do not live with the females of their pride unless they mate or have a large kill.	Males live with the females of their pride.
Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa.	Distribution: Found only in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India, and its surrounding areas.
Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert	Habitat: Dry deciduous forest
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix II CMS: Appendix II	Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Endangered CITES: Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I CMS: Appendix II
Threats: Habitat loss, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, inbreeding, diseases, hunting, grazing, mining, infrastructure development, etc. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), lions currently **inhabit only 8% of their former ranges*, while the rest live out of protected areas*.