OVER the decades Africa has seen a huge decline in its lion population which has raised alarm bells among experts who have issued a hopeful call to save one of the animal kingdom’s most majestic creatures.

In the 1950s, the continent had an estimated population of 500 000 wild lions which has plummeted to around 20 000 today. In a bid to raise awareness on this grave issue, a book titled The Last Lions by Colin Bell and Don Pinnock has been released as a powerful rallying cry by scientists and conservationists to save the lions.

It is filled with 275 extraordinary images that capture the lions’ distinctive beauty and strength, and offers a sweeping exploration of the biology and behaviour of lions, and the urgent work to protect them. The Last Lions also pays homage to one of the world’s most magnificent animals, and an essential call to ensure their future.

It takes you on a journey across the continent and into the lives of rangers, scientists and communities, and the majestic creatures they work to conserve.

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“The stunning wildlife photography allows readers to peer intimately into the lives of lions and their prides — including ferociously taking down their prey, napping in trees, and nuzzling each other — the stunning photography inspires advocacy,” according to reviews.

Alongside that the book also touches on the impacts of the lion trade, lion farming, cub petting, canned hunting, and the lion bone trade, as well as past and present distribution and geography. It also examines the rare white lions, dynamics and behaviours, paleontological history, and frontline conservation efforts.

Chapters from lion experts, including a foreword from nature writer David Quammen, share personal experiences witnessing and working with them, detail the continual threats to lions and the efforts to counteract them, and explore the relationship between people, lions, and the land.

To further the call for awareness, Caxton is offering ONE lucky person a chance to get their hands on The Last Lions which retails around R700 for FREE. To enter the competition fill in your contact details in the box below.

Competition closes on March 23 and the selected winner must make arrangements to collect the book from our offices.

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