The West African lion (Panthera leo leo) population has been classified as a separate subpopulation, ranging over 5 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal).
The main threats to this subpopulation include large-scale habitat conversion, prey base depletion through unsustainable hunting, and the retaliatory killing of lions due to perceived or real human-lion conflict.
This subpopulation is estimated at 404 individuals, with 90% of them persisting in the W-Arly-Pendjari conservation complex (WAP complex), Benin.
Lion conservation in the WAP complex
