Populations of lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, and other big cats are declining at an alarming rate as a consequence of habitat loss and degradation as well as conflicts with humans. In response, National Geographic, along with filmmakers, conservationists, and Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert, launched the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program to support on-the-ground conservation and education projects.
Big Cats Initiative grantees and volunteers work to make a difference in three major ways:
1. organizing and fielding antipoaching patrols to prevent lion snaring, testing lion carcasses for signs of poison, and medical treatment for snared lions;
2. working to reduce human-wildlife conflict through the building and improving of protective livestock corrals called bomas; and
3. community outreach focusing on conservation education, along with medical care for children and adults.
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