Can the Cape Lion be brought back?

[Thomas]

From an episode from Animal Planet’s Extinct or Alive

While shooting footage for Season 2 in Zimbabwe in 2019, the team collected DNA samples from an abnormally large lion that had recently been sighted in the area. Upon analyzing the DNA, the male was found to have 14% different DNA from a typical African lion, suggesting that it may have remanent genetics from the Cape lion population, which went extinct in the 1800s. The team theorizes that, through continued breeding, a pure Cape lion might one day be brought back.

Could it be possible just like the Barbary Lions?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Could it be possible just like the Barbary Lions?

It's pretty much exactly as possible as the Barbary Lion.

Which is to say, it isn't possible at all

 

[Zorro]

Were there any photos of this animal?

 

[Anniella]

The thing is, the Cape lion is not a separate species or even a separate subspecies, but merely a population. Surviving lions in southern Africa very well may have genes from that population, but I think there are more important conservation priorities than breeding back a phenotype from an extinct population.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

The thing is, the Cape lion is not a separate species or even a separate subspecies, but merely a population

Well, the validity of the research to which you refer is still under some debate but they are gone no matter what.

Were there any photos of this animal?

Only a single photograph is known:

 

[Zorro]

Well, the validity of the research to which you refer is still under some debate but they are gone no matter what.



Only a single photograph is known:

I was referring to the Lion who had its DNA taken not a pic of an animal from the past!

 

[Chlidonias]

Upon analyzing the DNA, the male was found to have 14% different DNA from a typical African lion

I'm not a geneticist, but if this lion's DNA was 14% different from a "typical" lion wouldn't it be dead?

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

I'm not a geneticist, but if this lion's DNA was 14% different from a "typical" lion wouldn't it be dead?

Depending on the how you define genetic "difference," if the DNA differs 14% from a "typical lion" (whatever that may be!) is more likely to be from an antilope the lion ate!

I hope it was oversimplification. They may have used a single gene or region or something, which makes it even more untrustworthy!

The team theorizes that, through continued breeding, a pure Cape lion might one day be brought back.

What you'll end up with is an extremely inbred lion population, with all the problems associated with it.