The Asian lion used to live in Southeast Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and India. It survived in northern India's Gir Forest, under the private protection of the ruler of the small state. Its habitat at that time was about 3,000 square kilometers. The habitat was then reduced to a very small area of only about 1,300 square kilometers. In 1957, three African lions were released to hopefully help the Asian lions population. The first real effort to help them was in 1910. The biggest threat in the Gir Forest Sanctuary to them was from people. The first captive breeding program was started in 1960. But that one failed because all of the two hundred animals were from only seven animals. That meant that most of them were interbreed. In 1990 a London zoo got 2 males and 2 females. they were start of of a brand new breeding program. by the end of 1996 twelve zoos around the world had Asian lions.