What do the lions at the end of the story symbolize in The Old Man and the Sea?

The lions symbolize youth, strength, happiness, and hope for the old man.

Santiago's dream about the lions is first described in the opening fifteen pages of the book.  He used to see the lions playing on the beaches of Africa, where he grew up, and he remembers that "they played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them".  In the midst of his epic battle with the big fish, Santiago again dreams about the lions, and "he (is) happy".

The significance of the book ending with a final reference to the dream of lions is that it shows that the old man, although battered and beaten possibly to the point of death by his encounter on the sea, still retains the ability to hope and dream - of returning to the challenges of life, of celebrating once again the vigor of his youth, of living like the "young cats" frolicking on the sand.  The story ends on a positive note, because the old man is happy when he is dreaming of lions, and whether he regains the strength to return to his beloved pursuits or not, his spirit remains indomitable.