The Smithsonian’s National Zoo Just Received Its Largest Donation Ever – Funds Will Go Towards A Brand New Habitat For This Critically Endangered Species The National Zoo just received its largest donation ever, which will go towards a brand new habitat for a critically endangered species.

This record-breaking gift is the largest in the National Zoo's history! It will fund the habitat, dedicated scientific staff, and long-term recovery research. 🧬

Cubs born in DC will eventually return to the Arabian Peninsula to support rewilding efforts! 🐾

Read more: secretdc.com/arabian-leop...

A high-detail, tight-crop portrait of an Arabian leopard's face. The leopard has striking pale-green eyes and long, prominent white whiskers. The lighting is warm and bright, focusing on the intensity of its gaze. The background consists of softly blurred, neutral earthy tones.

A portrait of a critically endangered Arabian leopard resting on a weathered log. The leopard is framed by the textured, light-brown trunks of desert trees, creating a natural window effect. It has intense, golden-amber eyes looking directly at the camera. The background is a soft, blurred tan.

Huge news for big cat conservation! 🎉 The world's rarest big cat, the Arabian leopard, is getting a massive boost with a $51.6M gift to the National Zoo!

A state-of-the-art habitat breaks ground this summer for these cats. Only ~120 remain in the wild. A monumental step! 🌍💛

A majestic male lion stands in the golden grass of the African savanna at sunset under a lone acacia tree. Text on the image provides critical context: "Lions have declined from ~200,000 in the 1980s to <25,000 today. A 90% drop in four decades."

A true legacy is more than what we leave behind. It is what we ensure remains.

Supporting the @lionrecoveryfund.bsky.social means 100% of funds go to the field to double the wild lion population. High impact, zero overhead. @mcuban.bsky.social Will you fund a lasting legacy for the wild?

A screenshot of an Instagram post from ccfcheetahuk dated February 23. The post features the same "crying over Zoom" meme. The caption reads: "POV: You want to work in cheetah conservation. Spoiler: yes, you’ll track wildlife and watch cheetahs all day... But you’ll also write emails. Lots of them..." A comment from a user expresses fear of Zoom meetings. The original Instagram URL is visible in the top left corner for verification.

A screenshot of an Instagram post from ccfcheetahuk dated February 21. The image shows a close-up of a cheetah with blood on its muzzle sitting next to a carcass it has just killed. The caption reads: "A successful hunt. Cheetahs only succeed in a fraction of their hunts... This is what it takes to survive in the wild." The post has 161 likes and several heart emojis in the comments. The original Instagram URL is visible in the top left corner for verification.

Yo folks, FYI: I stopped supporting Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in June 2025. These images show one of the main reasons why.

When donor-funded strategy shifts from saving a species to lazy office memes and marketing fluff, the mission is lost. Conservation needs results.

Black-and-white portrait of Nora, a female cheetah, resting alert in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, photographed in profile with a calm, dignified expression, representing a long-lived wild cheetah known across the landscape.

𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 – 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀.
𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘩, 𝘔𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘪 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢 (𝘤. 𝟤𝟢𝟣𝟤–𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧).

📷 Isabelle Decoster

For the leopard, it was just a meal, she can hunt other animals with bigger populations. But for Nora, it was her life, and we lost our beloved cheetah forever. 🤦

It seems more important to the tour guides that tourists get to witness animals killing each other, in this case a famous leopard killing a legendary cheetah, than to protect them. They could have honked or made noise to alert Nora, but they didn’t.

Woke up to the heartbreaking news that Nora is gone.

A sad morning for all of us who cared about her.

When safari vehicles keep engines running, they don’t just watch wildlife, they change outcomes.

Humanity never fails to disappoint. Rest easy, Nora 🤍

Jaguar Beach | PBS Nature Documentary YouTube video by Nature on PBS

Have you seen Jaguar Beach yet? See Brazil's elusive jaguars in action.

It’s currently available on YouTube, but may be removed later. Soon it will also be available on DVD and other platforms.

Watch here: youtu.be/hAyB-Ms_BHE

#JaguarBeach #WildCats #WildlifeDocumentary #Conservation

Such an important adaptation.

Did you know that every tiger’s stripe pattern is one-of-a-kind? Just like human fingerprints, no two tigers are the same. #SumatranTiger stripes are closer together than other species, helping them to hide and blend into the lush rainforests around them. 🐅

A small African wildcat stands on reddish sandy ground, facing the camera with alert green eyes. Its body is slender with light brown and gray tabby markings. Sparse vegetation is visible on the right side, and the background is softly blurred in warm tones. Text on the image reads: “African wildcat in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.” Photo credit: Damonique Maree de Beer.

The #WildCatsOfTheWorld series will continue, but I’ll be rotating themes.

New this week: #10AfricanCatSpecies – big and small cats of Africa.

More series coming soon. 🐾

#WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity

Did you know about Sumatran tiger night vision? This epic superpower makes them exceptional hunters under the cover of darkness. They also have long, sensitive whiskers, which help them navigate through dense forests, even in the dark! #SumatranTiger #SaveTheTiger #Wildlife #Tiger

A lioness stands in the foreground watching a large herd of wildebeest running through a dusty plains landscape. The scene is muted with soft green and brown tones, capturing the tension and movement of the wildlife.

Ever wonder where our profile photo comes from?

It’s a still from 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙝 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙥, one of our all-time favorite documentaries, featuring an incredibly intelligent cheetah raising her cubs in a tough landscape.

Video link: tubitv.com/series/30000...

#Cheetahs #NatureDocumentary

What makes the Lion Recovery Fund unique?

Close-up of a leopard gazing upward against a warm, golden background. The image includes the text “Olimba 2011–2025” at the top and “Photo © Leopard Legacy” at the bottom.

In loving memory of Olimba – Queen of the Luangwa Valley 🐆

She lived 14 remarkable years, raising 3 cubs and inspiring countless hearts. Brave, beautiful, and resilient to the end. Her spirit lives on through her son Kupela and the wilds she called home 🌿💛

#OlimbaTheLeopard #OlimbaTheLeopardess

🐾 FYI – check out @ourplanetearth.xyz if this series sparks your curiosity 🌿

A cheetah named Nora looks directly ahead with her mouth slightly open, showing her sharp teeth. The background is blurred golden savanna. Overlaid text reads: Beautiful Nora and Masaai Mara with a Kenyan flag emoji.

Meet #NoraTheCheetah – the Masaai Mara 🇰🇪’s one-of-a-kind beauty.

At 13 years young, she’s still hunting, exploring, and captivating all who cross her path. 🐾✨

#BeautifulNora #BigCatsOfAfrica #Cheetahs #Wildlife

Book cover of Wild Cats of the World by Luke Hunter, illustrated by Priscilla Barrett, featuring a close-up of a wild cat’s face with green eyes and snow on its fur.

From the tiny Black-footed Cat to the mighty Amur tiger, the cat family spans the globe.

Fierce, fragile, and fascinating – each species tells a story of survival.

Inspired by #WildCatsOfTheWorld by Luke Hunter. Stay tuned for more! 🐾

A lioness wades through swamp vegetation in the Okavango Delta, lit by warm golden light with tall reeds surrounding her and her eyes fixed ahead. Text on the image reads: “Fekeetsa — Okavango Lioness.” This is a scene from the documentary Okavango: River of Dreams - Episode 1: Paradise.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀𝗮 – wounded by a buffalo and left behind by her pride, she fought to survive and protect her cubs in the Okavango swamps.

Her story is one of resilience, motherhood, and survival in the wild. 🦁🌍

#FekeetsaTheLion #FekeetsaTheLioness #Lions #BigCats #WildlifeStories #NatureDocumentary

A male lion lies stretched out on a dirt road, resting on his side with his head on the ground, gazing toward the camera in soft evening light.

Do wild animals like lions get skin cancer? 🤔

Surprisingly, it’s rare! Thick fur, pigmented skin, and clever adaptations – like evolution’s built-in sunscreen – keep even the king of the jungle safe under the sun. 🌞🦁

#WildlifeFacts #NatureProtection #Lions #BigCats

Cover of the book Remembering Tigers. A tiger looks directly at the camera while sitting in tall grass. The title “Remembering Tigers” is printed across the image, along with the subtitle “Wildlife Photographers United” and “Foreword by Valmik Thapar.”

Looking for a meaningful gift that gives back?
𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a stunning #photography book that supports tiger conservation 🐅

Beautiful enough for any coffee table – and it’s on sale! 📖

#WildlifeConservation #Tigers #PhotographyBook #NatureLovers #RememberingTigers #RememberingWildlife

A lioness sleeps on a rocky outcrop with her cubs tucked beside her, overlooking the open savanna. The family rests closely together in their natural habitat.

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆?

By protecting wild families like this lion pride, you help ensure they’re still here for generations to come.

That’s a legacy worth leaving. 🦁🌍

Learn more or support @lionrecoveryfund.bsky.social

#WildLegacy #Conservation

A tigress rests on rocky ground as one cub leans affectionately against her, while a second cub is partly hidden behind her. It’s a tender moment of connection that reflects the beauty and fragility of life in the wild.

If you believe in God,
protecting His creations is a sacred calling.

Whether in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism,
we are entrusted to care for the Earth.

Every creature is part of His world.
Let’s cherish and protect it. 🌍💚

#CreationCare #Khalifah #TikkunOlam

📸 Prakash Ramakrishnan

A safari guide sits on the edge of a vehicle, smiling with quiet happiness as a wild lion walks nearby through tall golden grass on a misty morning. The scene feels quiet and respectful, capturing a peaceful moment between human and animal in nature.

Once our basic needs are met – food, shelter, and freedom – what more do we need to live well?

Just two things:
🧠 Curiosity – to keep learning and growing
🧡 Love – for wildlife, our planet, people, and ourselves

📸 by Inyati Game Lodge, Sabi Sands

A mountain lion cub looks up lovingly at its mother while walking closely under her body. The mother gazes ahead, alert and calm, as they stand in the golden grasslands of Torres del Paine.

The way this puma cub looks at mom. 🥺

That little face says it all - mom is their whole world: teacher, protector, and hunting coach all in one.

Moments like these from Torres del Paine show why protecting habitat matters. When we save wild spaces, we help keep families together. 🐾

A leopard lies on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves, baring its teeth and staring directly ahead with an intense expression. Text on the image reads: “Conservation isn’t just passion. It’s responsibility, action, love.”

𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 “𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻” 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. 🔥

Because conservation isn’t just a feeling – it’s responsibility, action, and love for our planet and wildlife. 🌍🐾

Let’s talk real commitment, not buzzwords.

#NoMorePassion #ConservationWithLove #conservation

📷 Artur Cabral (IG: arturcabral)

A group of lions, mostly juveniles, walk away down a dirt track through dry grasslands in soft orange light. One adult lion sits slightly apart to the right, watching over the group. The scene is backlit by a warm sunset, casting long shadows and illuminating the haze of dust.

I’m no longer a volunteer or donor for a major wildlife charity due to misaligned values and lack of accountability.

Excited to support the #LionRecoveryFund, where 100% of donations go directly to field conservation. Real impact, real transparency 🦁✨

wildnet.org/protecting-w...

📸 ig/olicwildlife

Climate change is a growing threat to leopards ⚠️, impacting the vegetation they rely on.
Healthy forests support herbivores, provide hunting cover, and offer safe shelters for cubs.
Protecting nature = protecting leopards.
Conservation is crucial. We must act now!
#TheHerds

When annoying your sibling is your favorite pastime 🤼‍♂️😼

This playful #leopard duo is having a moment!

#DidYouKnow: #Leopards communicate using unique sound - males, for example, let out a hoarse cough to announce their presence 🐆🔊

🎥 ig/ajith.arjunan