Borrego+and+Costa+OpEd

__**LIONS, TIGERS, AND SMART PEOPLE? OH MY!**__

Lions once lived in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Today only a small population of lions live in the Gir forest in India, while others are scattered across South Africa.

What a shame. We and lions have more in common than most people realize.

For example, if we're weaponless and outnumbered in a dark alley, should we run? Probably. If we and our friends outnumber our enemies, do we have a better chance of winning the fight? Most likely.

Did you know lions have evolved a similar ability to make decisions based on the chances of winning? Researchers have shown that African lions are able to count the number of intruders on their territory and are more likely to attack if they outnumber them. The upside to that? More survive and more have offspring. In the same way, people who work well with others are more likely to succeed.

In both species, an intellectual ability has evolved as a result of social needs.(THIS SENTENCE ISN'T CLEAR TO ME -- THE CAUSE AND EFFECT. I DON'T THINK OF ASSESSING THE NUMBER OF PREDATORS AROUND AS INVOLVING MUCH "INTELLECT," I GUESS."

Scientists at the University of Miami are currently studying African lions, tigers and leopards to look at how the stress of living in groups creates pressure to develop skills that make cooperation and recognition of others possible.

Unfortunately, these large cats are disappearing from the wild and our ability to observe their natural behavior may soon be lost. Habitat loss, poaching and pollutants are destroying wild populations around the world.

It's time for humans to use their cooperative abilities to work together to reduce that loss. Who knows what we have yet to learn from lions?