The number of lions in Kenya continues to decline drastically at the average rate of 100 a year. All of the country's lions could be gone within 20 years unless emergency measures are taken to stabilize the population. A combination of factors is contributing to the demise, but a leading cause of lion fatalities is retaliation by stock men who loose livestock to lions. A nationwide program of public education and reimbursement for livestock loses must be put in place immediately to end the common practice of killing lions as nuisances. Lions are a major attraction for visitors to Kenya. But with only 2000 lions remaining in the wild it may be that the only place to see a Kenyan lion is in captivity. Truly a tragic thought.[photo: Etosha NP male lion, US Person]