Barbary Lion

The Barbary Lion, Atlas lion or Nubian lion Panthera leo leo is a subspecies of lion that has become extinct in the wild. It was believed to be extinct in captivity as well. However, possible Barbary lion individuals or descendants have been located in zoos and circus populations within the last three decades. It is often considered to be the largest of the lion subspecies with males weighing between 400-650 lbs (181 to 295 kg) and females 270-400 lbs (120 to 181 kg), approximately the size of Bengal tigers. However, more recent research suggests that it is only slightly larger than modern African lion, which weighs approximately 420 lbs on average. The Barbary Lion, also called the Atlas lion or Nubian lion, formerly ranged in North Africa (from Morocco to Libya) and continuing to Egypt. The last known Barbary Lion in the wild was shot in the Atlas Mountains in 1922. The two other primary predators of northern Africa, the Atlas bear and Barbary leopard are now extinct or close to be, respectively.