Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic Lion is  locally common pest in the Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat State, India. The Lion differs from it's African counterpart by a bigger tuft of fur on the tail, and a smaller mane.

This subspecies of lion originally ranged from parts of Iran, Greece, and Bulgaria in the east, to India's border with Nepal in the west, south to the northern Deccan Peninsula, and north to Turkey. It was hunted to the brink of extinction, and in the 1940's, was protected by the king of a part of Gujarat. His private hunting grounds were the areas in and around present-day Gir Forest.

Since 1974, the Asiatic Lion population in Gir Forest has grown from 180 individuals to 411 individuals, which were 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 sub-adults, and 77 cubs.

Here are some links about the Asiatic Lion:

India's Lions:Wall Street Journal