The Lion

1. Researchers have found that Africa's lion population has plummeted from 200,000 only 20 years ago to around 23,000 today.

2. Most of the African lions have suffered at the hands of man. Conservationists fear that they could suffer the same fate as the slightly smaller Asiatic lion. Once ranging across Europe, north Africa, and south-west Asia, the Asian lion's habitat is now confined to the protected Gir Forest in India.

3. Mountain lions, or cougars, are on the decline in the Americas. Experts say that you stand more of a chance of being struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion, but judging by the roar, anyone in their habitat would be well advised to keep an eye on the children.

4. Of course, lions and children have a long and happy fictional history, from CS Lewis' Aslan in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, to Disney's far slushier Simba in the Lion King

5. Another children's classic is Born Free, the story of George and Joy Adamson and their efforts to return human-raised lioness Elsa to the Kenyan wilderness. The Born Free organisation now campaigns for the conservation of animals in their natural habitats, and against holding them in zoos.

6. One lion who didn't escape captivity was Marjun, the one-eyed lion of the Kabul city zoo. He died of old age last year, having survived decades of war, captivity, the Taliban, and a grenade attack.

7. What do lions eat when out of their natural habitat? Middle managers at IBM

8. Though lions have been widely hunted by humans, most people tend to eat them only in the chocolate form.

9. Lions and beer go together, so long as no one is holding a rifle. The Red Lion is the most common pub name in Britain, with between 600 and 900 of them throughout the country.

10. Finally, we can't ignore the noisy, smelly and sadly endangered Stellar sealion. These enormous, barking lovelies have suffered a significant decline in numbers, and are every bit as worthy of protection as their more furry namesakes.