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More Barbary Info
Mane Comparisons

HABITAT

Unlike the plains dwelling lion of today, the Barbary Lion occupied the woodlands of the mountainous system of the Great and Little Atlas. It was separated geographically from other lion populations almost entirely by deserts on the south, south-east, and east

The Barbary Lion shared this range with 2 other predators now extinct as well - the Barbary Leopard and the Atlas Bear. Sadly, there are no reports of the Atlas Bear (closely related to the European Brown Bear) existing even in captivity.

The last known Barbary Leopard, which was in captivity in the US, passed away early in 1999.

APPEARANCE

The male Barbary lion commonly weighed 500 pounds, and reports over 600 lb. were not uncommon. Females weighed 300-350 lbs. The average male African/Asian lion of today weighs in at only about 330-430 pounds.

The Barbary Lion had a more compact, heavier build than its cousins. It's legs were shorter and its body longer and more robust and muscular in appearance, with a deep chest and well rounded hindquarters. It only stood between 2 feet 7 inches and 3 feet 3 1/2 inches, 3-11 inches shorter than its African and Asian cousins. It's overall body length was much longer, and ranged from just over 9 feet to just under 11 feet! There were reports of lions in the Atlas Mountain range killed that measured 17 feet, but it is believed that those reports were GREATLY exaggerated!

It's face had a short broad muzzle with a wide face and large round amber eyes. The eyes had a very clear light iris, rather than brown like the African or Asian. The fur in the inside foreleg of the female was white. The mane that surrounded the face was blonde, while the rest of the mane gave the appearance of being black. The mane was actually a combination of tawny gray mixed with bright brown and blackish brown hairs. All male Barbary Lions have this color mane - there are no variations. They will have a blonde mane when the animal is immature, or has lost some of its mane and is experiencing re-growth. African and Asian Lions can have many varieties of mane colors, ranging from blonde to red to brown to black. The mane of the Barbary is thick and lush, and extends down the chest through the front legs, down the back below the shoulder, and the length of the belly through to the groin. It gives the appearance of being 50% mane! The ground color of the coat is darker and more grayish than that of the more southern lion populations, and the hair in both sexes is longer.

EXTINCTION

The Barbary lion first became extinct in Tripoli in 1700, then in Tunisia in 1891, Algeria in 1899, and finally, the last Barbary lion in the wild was killed in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in 1922. In Tunisia, extinction was partly due to the hunting by French and Arab sportsmen, as well as widespread deforestation and human settlement. In Algeria, it became extinct primarily due to hunting, as the hunting of these lions was so encouraged that the 2 great lion-hunting tribes were not only exempt from having to pay taxes, but they were paid liberally for their skins. In Morocco, the proliferation of firearms during the civil wars and the rise of banditry resulted in the hunting down the last of these great and noble beasts.