Felis Images / Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), female and cubs in morning light, cub biting mother's leg. Gir National Park, Gujarat, India. Photo Phillip Ross/Felis Images

Uri Golman / Tourists watching an Asiatic male lion (Panthera leo persica) from safari jeeps, Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India

Uri Golman / Asiatic lionesses and cubs (Panthera leo persica) drinking from pool, Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India. Water is scarce in the Gir, so Forest staff keep a network of drinking pools topped up for the wild...

Uri Golman / Asiatic lion cub (Panthera leo persica) looking up into tree, possibly at a bird, Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India

Uri Golman / Asiatic lioness (Panthera leo persica) licking another lioness from the pride, Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India

Uri Golman / Asiatic lioness with two cubs (Panthera leo persica), Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India

Florian Möllers / African Lions (Panthera leo) in a bare cage in Beijing Zoo, China, November.

Chris Shields / Illustration of wildlife at African waterhole: Water buffalo (Syncerus caffer),gazelle,African lion (Panthera leo),African elephant (Loxodonta sp), weaver birds (Ploceidae).

Fred Bavendam / Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans) lurking among Feather Star Crinoids clinging to the lip of a large Barrel Sponge, Bali, Indonesia

Anup Shah / Asiatic lion male sneezing {Panthera leo persica} Gir NP, Gujarat, India

Anup Shah / Asiatic lion male portrait {Panthera leo persica} Gir NP, Gujarat, India

Felis Images / Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), portrait. Gir National Park, Gujarat, India. Photo Phillip Ross/Felis Images