Now, these lions can found in Gir Forest National Park in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, where only 523 species exist. Genetic research shows that the ancestors of the Asiatic Lion split from the sub-Saharan African lions between 74 and 203 thousand years ago. The closest relatives of the Asiatic Lion are North and West-Central African lions.
The lion has been trademarking Armenian imagery since antiquity until today. Way before Armenia converted to Christianity in 301 AD, the lion has been used as a symbol as well.
Asiatic Lion vs African Lion
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I've read claims that even the Artaxid Kings before Christianity were using Lions as Royal Symbols. But the examples don't go that far back.