The writer introduces the lion and its present habitat, and goes on to examine through written and visual records the interaction between this majestic animal and human beings in Asia, from the earliest available historical records to the present day. Also documented here are the censuses conducted in the last hundred years to monitor its population dynamics, and the history of the attempts to find a second home for the lion, which still continue.<BR>The book evaluates efforts made for the conservation of the lions in the first half of the 20th century by British administrators and more remarkably by the last two nawabs of Junagadh. The status in independent India is recorded, with indications of what the future holds for the lion in the 21st century.