Ancient roots of the king of the savanna: the evolution of the lion

The fascinating history of the species encompasses a remarkable range of events, including the dispersal of Pleistocene cave lions and the evolution of the many subspecies known today.

The evolution of lions can be traced back to a common ancestor with the big cats, followed by a diversity of subspecies across continents.

Studying the evolution of lions helps to conserve the species

Today’s lions belong to the genus Panthera and are therefore big cats. Genetic research, including ancestral DNA analysis, has traced the origin of Panthera leo back to an ancestor shared with other big cats. Mitochondrial DNA analyses and phylogenetic relationships based on genome sequences suggest that lions shared a common ancestor between about 124,000 and 1.2 million years ago. For example, the cave lion, the Panthera leo spelaea, once lived in parts of Eurasia but disappeared about 13,000 years ago. It did, however, leave behind a genetic history that is intertwined with today’s big cats.

This evolutionary journey saw major changes as lions spread across Africa, then Eurasia, and finally North America. Once indigenous to North Africa, the lions Barbary lion, and the Asiatic lion in the Gir forest of India are among the subspecies that evolved during this process. Interestingly, as early as about 120,000 years ago, in the late Pleistocene, these cats began to take on the appearance of modern African lions. At that time, tropical rainforests covered the equatorial zone of Africa and the Sahara was becoming a savannah.

Genetic analysis reveals a distinct population structure between these groups. Including Central and West African lions, which were influenced by geographical isolation and ecological niches.

By studying lions past and present, scientists have been able to unravel the lifestyles of these animals. This ongoing research is key to conservation, offering hope for the protection of lion genetic diversity and lineages worldwide.

Here is why it’s difficult to uncover their story

As reported by Index, the evolution of lions has been difficult to trace because there are usually fewer fossils left behind after animals live in the tropics. Furthermore, years ago it was thought that the large carnivore was being hunted by humans, wiping out entire populations through hunting. Today, however, this theory seems to be disproved.

During the late Pleistocene, lions in the south and east became separated from those in the north and west.
They evolved in different directions. Genetic differences between the two groups have persisted to this day. Around 51,000 years ago, the African continent became drier and drier, and the Sahara became larger and larger, cutting off the lions of the west from those of the north. At the same time, western populations began to populate Central Africa, which then became more habitable.

DNA analysis has also revealed that modern lions only started migrating from Africa 21,000 years ago. By the end of the Pleistocene, they had reached all the way to India. Much later, about 5000 years ago, another group of lions left Africa and made their way to what is now Iran, but none of them survived to this day.

Conservation efforts are holistic

Both habitat loss and human conflicts are seriously threatening the survival of the species. Both African and Asiatic lions face the threat of extinction, with different populations facing different levels of threat. The number of lions in the Gir forest, for example, has risen to over 600 thanks to conservation measures, although the proportion could still be better. Meanwhile, African lions are also severely affected by a number of factors: populations in West and Central Africa, such as those in Cameroon, have been classified as critically endangered.

Conservation efforts are holistic, targeting not only lions but also their ecosystems. Genetic diversity and gene flow are key to maintaining their health and fitness, which is why initiatives such as transferring individuals to avoid inbreeding have been introduced. Furthermore, protecting their natural habitat and prey is also a key step. The reintroduction of extinct subspecies such as the Barbary and Cape lion through admixture is also under consideration.

In addition, it is crucial that locals are educated about the predation of livestock. The aim is to create corridors that facilitate migration while protecting human communities. It is reassuring that some initiatives in South Africa have been successful in community-based conservation; they have succeeded in ensuring that lion conservation benefits local populations.