Skip to content

ENSURING A FUTURE FOR BIG CATS

Big cats worldwide are under threat—for many populations, local extinctions are imminent 
due to habitat loss, degradation, and conflicts with humans.

Lioness and Cub walking
Photograph by Paula Kahumbu

Lions have disappeared from 95% of their historic range in Africa and their populations have declined 43% in the 21 years between 1993-2014.

The African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) is an endangered big cat that, despite longterm conservation efforts and successful captive breeding programs, remains in decline thanks to human poaching and habitat destruction.
Photograph by Chris Johns 

African cheetah populations have disappeared from more than 90% of their historic range with an 87% decline in “resident range” populations.

OUR IMPACT

Since our work began in 2009, we have made significant impact. 

150+

Grants awarded for work
in 28 countries

2.8K

Reduced threats for almost 3K big cats in the wild

2K

Livestock enclosures built, reducing human-wildlife conflict with big cats

13K

Life-threatening snares removed from big cat habitats

<p>Photograph by Beverly Joubert</p>

Photograph by Mike Myers

The Great Plains Foundation Big Cats Initiative

In 2009, the National Geographic Society, in partnership with National Geographic Explorers at Large and world renowned conservationists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, founded the Big Cats Initiative (BCI) to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. BCI made a substantial impact in big cats conservation, awarding more than 150 grants for work in 28 countries, funding individuals’ on-the-ground research and innovative field-based conservation projects to safeguard big cats and their critical habitats. This impact continues under Dereck and Beverly’s leadership at the Great Plains Big Cats Initiative.

The Society remains committed to protecting big cats and has a renewed focus on supporting wildlife work—including the development of new grant opportunities—for Explorers who are on the frontlines of conservation. If you are interested in supporting Explorers who are working to save threatened wildlife, safeguard ecosystems, and educate and encourage people to co-exist more peacefully with local animal populations visit natgeo.org/give. Visit Great Plains Foundation to learn more about this program.

 

Protecting Big Cats

Our Explorers in the field are working to safeguard big cats. 
Find out how they’re making a difference.

Get Updates

Learn how you can help protect wildlife and wild places. Get updates from our Explorers in the field and learn about all our work to explore and protect the planet.

With Support From 

main photo by Lyle Gregg

HELP SAVE BIG CATS
Your donation today will fund on-the-ground research and innovative conservation projects to help protect big cats and the habitats they need to survive.