Should we introduce African lions to be part of Eco-system in North America?

Question

And have them blended in with the native animals like bisons, deers, etc.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8983461/

Answer 1

We did at one time have lions in these parts. They went extinct as part of the megafaunal extinctions that took place about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age (perhaps not so coincidentally, also about the same time sizable human populations arrived in North America).

There are a few problems with re-introducing lions into the modern ecosystem.

Beyond the potential danger to humans living in the area, or the danger to livestock, it wouldn't be a good idea simply because that ecosystem really no longer exists.

The prairie as a true ecosystem is almost completely gone today. There are no gigantic herds of bison that can migrate from Canada throughout the western United States anymore. More than 99% of the prairies have been ripped up and turned into crops to feed the swollen ranks of humanity on the planet.

The temperate grasslands are the most endangered ecosystem on the planet (far more so than tropical rainforest). There is virtually no untouched prairie left anywhere on the globe.

There's simply no place to actually introduce the lions even if we wanted to.

UPDATE: Upon actually reading the article you linked to, I see that this is exactly the problem the proposed project is intended to ameliorate. I whole-heartedly agree, and think it's a fantastic idea! Thank you for posting this!

Answer 2

No because environmental history has shown that non-native or invasive species tend to flourish if left unchecked in a new ecosystem. Their numbers increase exponentially and they use up the limited resources in their habitat. If African lions were introduced they could kill nearly all the herbivores in an area. This means they will begin to attack anything they can kill and eat. Including humans. Also with out herbivores to eat them, some plant species will also grow exponentially using up the nutrients in the soil, killing other plants. The lions could also use up all the water in the ecosystem, killing almost everything. The lions may also bring new diseases to North America, which could infect anything. Though there is a chance none of this may happen, the risks are too great to make introducing lions to North America a good idea. Also the article you posted say as that introducing lions will "fix" the predator-prey relationship, but many wolves are being reintroduced to their former territory, rendering this project useless for little more than a tourist attraction. For more information on the rintroduction of wolves watch the prmier of "Thunderbeasts" on the National Geographic channel Friday night.

Answer 3

No. And here's why. we live in a nation where NRA members, farmers and cattle rancer freak out over wolves, bob cats and bears-predators who are a natural part of our North American ecosystem. The truth is, most American's would get rid of all the animals except those in a zoo becuase we are cluless about how to live with them and how NOT to invade their territory.
It's that dumb manifest destiny garbage. Another testosterone driven quest to pee on every tree and kill anything men don;t understand. Lions need African savannah, the prey their bodies are accostumed to digesting, the weather cycles they know in their bones and the geography they were born to.

Where would you suggest they fit in ? Texas?

Answer 4

Or perhaps the Ebola Virus? Seemingly harmless imports like French snails, nutria, and Scotch Broom have squeezed native organisms out of their natural habitat when placed in a different environment. It's a game of Russian Roulette.

Answer 5

North America already has lions. Mountain lion, aka cougars. There is no need or reason to introduce African species, and it is a bad idea ecologically anyway.

Answer 6

Ummm...no. We can't even keep our native predators around in North America (ie- wolves). Introducing lions would be disastrous.

Answer 7

You can have them in your neighborhood if you like but I think I would feel a little safer with an ocean between me and them.

Answer 8

no.

We shouldn't try to reintroduce any historic species any more than we should try to reintroduce the bubonic plague into europe.

Horrible things beyond our controll can and often do happen when we mess with nature