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How did canine distemper affect lions in Serengeti National Park in 1994?
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lion
The distinguishing feature of a male lion (Panthera leo) is its mane, which makes the animal look larger and may serve to intimidate rivals or impress prospective mates.
In 1994, an outbreak of a variant of canine distemper had a devastating impact on the lion population in Serengeti National Park. The epidemic resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,000 lions, which accounted for nearly one-third of the park's total lion population at that time.12
The virus is believed to have originated from domestic dogs living along the periphery of the park. While canine distemper is typically known as an acute, highly contagious disease affecting various carnivores, this specific event highlighted the vulnerability of wild lion populations to pathogens transmitted from domestic animals.13