The Fish and Wildlife Service will consider listing the African lion under the Endangered Species Act, which conservationists argue is critical to stop the animal's decline from sport hunting and products.

A coalition of animal welfare groups petitioned FWS to list the lion last year. Its population has been cut in half over the past 30 years, and an estimated 35,000 remain, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

A major threat comes from sport trophy hunting and products like lion-skin rugs, according to the IFAW. Listing the lions as endangered would make it illegal to import trophies into the United States or sell their parts here, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the market.

FWS agreed the petition presented enough information to conduct a formal review of the lion's status to determine whether listing is indeed warranted. The public has 60 days to provide initial comments.

The African lion is the only big cat without ESA protection, according to the IFAW. The Asiatic lion was listed as endangered in 1970.