First, it's worth noting that depictions of animals do not require to actually exist where they're discussed. Most of the bible's mentions of lions are metaphors of some sort (strength like a lion, etc), and the bible also does the same thing with animals that are either mythical or of unclear identification (behemoth, re'em, leviathan, etc). However, there are actual narrative uses of lions, specifically with Samson fighting with a lion. While the story itself is probably not historical, presumably the readers, who also lived in the Middle East, and would require a narrative context that makes sense (i.e. you wouldn't write a story for Floridians about fighting polar bears in florida, but you might with gators).

So with that in mind, behold the Asiatic lion! While I can't really speak to the biology of them, it is true that in the past there were populations of lions through much of the Middle East that are extirpated today. As a consequence lions, as the region's apex predator, are no uncommon in ancient Near Eastern literature and art, including the bible.

Yes, there were populations of the Asiatic lion in the Middle East until the 19th century AD, and the last known one in Palestine was killed in the 14th century.

Going back to OT Biblical times, we have records of them being either kept or hunted by rulers of the major powers of the period (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon).