US Person pointed out in his pictorial post "Lions of Luangwa" that lion populations in Africa are in steep decline. The same troubling trend is true for other wild felids and canids. They all suffer from habitat loss and extermination by man for one invalid reason or another. A century ago there were as many as 200,000 lions, now there are fewer than 30,000. They are extinct in 26 countries they formerly occupied. Persecution by herders and ranchers is unrelenting and devastating. African wild dogs exist in less than 7% of their historic range and are extinct in 22 countries in which they lived. Accidental snaring and rabies have killed all but 8,000 of the genetically unique canine. The report ominously titled "Fading Call of the Wild" examines the condition of 15 species that are considered ecologically important, and if conserved properly would protect their surrounding habitats and other species dependent on those ecosystems.A US law that helps preserve these animals is the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Act of 2004. It is set to expire unless the law is renewed by Congress. The law provides funds for conservation efforts through the Multinational Species Conservation Funds administered by US Fish & Wildlife. Ask your Senator to support renewal of this important protection for wild cats and dogs. They deserve it.