The Barbary Lion occupied the modern day northern limits of the once forested North Africa and was among the largest of all lions. The male could weigh up to 500lb and measure 10ft from head to tip of tail. It was massive! It was a giant of the species in every sense even having the largest mane which covered half of the lion's body from its head to the middle of the animalŐs back.
Human pressure on this great beast was initially limited by the very size and nature of its habitat. However, the Barbary Lion could not escape the interest of the marauding Romans as they conquered civilisations.
As a show of might and a way of celebrating victory after victory over a race of unenlightened people, creatures from captured lands would be displayed in staggering numbers, in the Circus Maximus, a mammoth arena seating 250,000 people.
