Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 136, April 2016, pp. 1-35.

10 Barbary lions possess the same belly fold (hidden under that entire mane) that appears in the Asian lions today. The mane of "Scar," the villain of Disney's “The Lion King”, was based on a Barbary Lion (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006). The sign infront of the taxidermied Lion (Panthera leo) at the Museum of Natural History in Al-Baq'a, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Occupied Palestine ... The Lions were presented to the City of Jerusalem by ESI-Engineering Services International JerusalemKampala … Photo: Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-von Jaffa ... 27.07.2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15414531269/ The former popularity of the Barbary Lion as a zoo animal provides the only hope to ever see it again in the wild in North Africa. After years of research into the science of the Barbary Lion and stories of surviving examples, WildLink International, in collaboration with Oxford University, launched their ambitious International Barbary Lion Project. They are using the very latest DNA techniques to identify the DNA 'fingerprint' of the Barbary Lion subspecies. WildLink International has taken bone samples from remains of Barbary Lions in Museums across Europe, like those in Brussels, Paris, Turin and others. These samples are returned to Oxford University where the science team is extracting the DNA sequence that identifies the Barbary as a separate subspecies. Although the Barbary is officially extinct, WildLink International had identified a handful of lions in captivity around the world that is descended from the original Barbary Lion, like the royal lions in Temara Zoo in Rabat, Morocco. These descendants will be tested against the DNA fingerprint and the degree of any hybridization (from crossbreeding) can then be determined. The best candidates will then enter a selective breeding Programme that will 'breed back' the Barbary Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 136 – April 2016

Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 136, April 2016, pp. 1-35. | Page 10