<p>A lion cub stands on a zebra carcass.</p>

Catch of the Day

A lion cub stands on a zebra carcass.

Photograph by Michael Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection

12 Amazing Pictures of Lions

For World Lion Day, we compiled National Geographic's most beautiful pictures of the big cats in Africa.

Icons of pride and heritage, lions are also troubled: They've lost 90 percent of their population in Africa and Asia in the last 75 years, mostly due to conflict with humans, poaching, and trophy hunting.

A group of nonprofits and tourism companies created World Lion Day to spread awareness about the conservation issues that lions face, raise funds for lion conservation groups, and to celebrate the animal. Organizations including Panthera, Born Free USA, and National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative also support the day and its message of conservation. (See 15 intimate portraits of lions.)

Over the years, National Geographic photographers have taken many photographs of lions in their natural habitats. To share the beauty of these vulnerable animals, we put

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought
World’s first ultrasounds of wild manta rays reveal a troubling truth
Titanic was found during secret Cold War Navy mission

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet