Panthera

Panthera Corporation, commonly known as Panthera, is a United States-based charitable conservation organization focused exclusively on wild cats and their habitats. Established in 2006 by conservation scientist Alan Rabinowitz and entrepreneur and philanthropist Thomas S. Kaplan, the organization works across the range of the world's 40 wild-cat species, combining field biology, applied conservation science, habitat protection, law-enforcement support, community engagement and strategic philanthropy. The organization concentrates particularly on seven large or widely recognized cats: cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards and tigers. It also develops programs for smaller and less internationally visible species, including fishing cats, ocelots and Andean cats. Rather than operating only through isolated reserves, Panthera often takes a landscape and connectivity approach. Its projects seek to preserve movement corridors, improve protected-area management, reduce poaching, resolve conflicts between predators and livestock owners, and maintain genetic exchange between separated populations. A major expression of this approach is the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, which seeks to connect jaguar populations from Mexico through Central and South America. Panthera has supported corridor planning, government partnerships, field research and community programs in countries including Belize, Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil. In the Pantanal, the organization has worked with ranchers on non-lethal methods of reducing cattle losses. Similar coexistence work has been undertaken for pumas and sheep in Chile, including the use of livestock-guarding dogs, deterrent technology and wildlife-based tourism. Panthera's international portfolio also includes tiger conservation in Asia, snow-leopard research and community programs in Central Asia, leopard conservation in Africa and Arabian leopard work in Saudi Arabia. Its African activities include long-term leopard research in South Africa, anti-poaching and large-cat monitoring in Zambia, protected-area collaboration in Gabon and park-security and ecological-monitoring support in Senegal. In North America, its puma research has included collaboration with Indigenous tribes on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. The organization supports conservation capacity through grants and fellowships, including the Kaplan Graduate Awards, Research and Conservation Grants, Small Cat Action Fund, Sabin Snow Leopard Grant Program and Winston Cobb Memorial Fellowships. It has also supported the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and collaborates with governments, universities, nongovernmental organizations, local communities and corporate partners. Panthera is not a consumer-goods company. Its brand represents specialist conservation expertise, scientific credibility and practical protection of wild cats in the field. Its public identity is associated with research, protected landscapes, ranger support, wildlife corridors and coexistence initiatives. Panthera maintains offices and programs in the United States, Europe, Mesoamerica, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Frederic Launay serves as president and chief executive officer, succeeding co-founder Alan Rabinowitz in 2017.

Panthera was created in 2006 by Alan Rabinowitz and Thomas S. Kaplan as an organization dedicated specifically to the conservation of wild cats. Rabinowitz brought extensive experience in field biology and protected-area development, while Kaplan provided philanthropic leadership. The organization inherited a strongly practical conservation philosophy: scientific research should be connected to measurable protection of animals, habitats and ecological corridors. Rabinowitz served as Panthera's first president and chief executive officer. His earlier work included helping establish a jaguar preserve in Belize in 1986 and promoting the idea of a connected jaguar range rather than a collection of disconnected sanctuaries. That concept became the basis for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, one of Panthera's defining programs. The initiative treats the jaguar's ability to move across large landscapes as essential to gene flow, population health and long-term survival. Panthera subsequently worked with governments, researchers, landowners and community organizations throughout Mesoamerica and South America. During the organization's early international expansion, its projects included the creation of the Labouring Creek Jaguar Corridor Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, cooperation with Colombia on corridor protection, research on jaguar movement in Costa Rica and field work in Brazil's Pantanal. Panthera's approach in ranching landscapes emphasized methods that could reduce livestock losses without killing predators. The organization later applied similar coexistence principles to puma conservation in Chile, using livestock-guarding dogs, deterrent devices and ecotourism-related incentives. In Asia, Panthera developed tiger and snow-leopard programs. Its Tigers Forever work sought to improve tiger protection across a proposed landscape linking Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, with other countries considered in the wider regional concept. Panthera also supported conservation and monitoring in India and assisted efforts associated with the expansion of Myanmar's Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve. Its snow-leopard work in Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia combined surveys, population research and engagement with herding communities. Programs included incentives for communities that avoided killing snow leopards and measures to reduce livestock losses from disease, which could be more significant than losses to predators. African programs developed around some of the continent's most important large-cat landscapes. Panthera's long-term leopard research in South Africa's Sabi Sands has generated information intended to improve local management and wider conservation policy. In Zambia, work in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem has included support for anti-poaching teams, lion protection and monitoring, leopard research and cheetah tracking. In Gabon, the organization has collaborated with the national parks agency on wildlife monitoring and corridor identification. In Senegal, a long-term relationship with the national parks authority has supported ranger operations, park infrastructure and ecological monitoring, including satellite tracking of lions. Panthera also broadened its attention to smaller and less studied cats, including fishing cats, ocelots and Andean cats. Its grant-making programs have supported field conservationists, graduate researchers and specialized small-cat projects. The organization has additionally supported the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University and a related training program in international wildlife practice. In the Middle East, Panthera's work has increasingly focused on Arabian leopards, including collaboration supported by the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia. In southern Africa, its Furs for Life and Saving Spots initiatives have promoted synthetic alternatives to traditional wild-cat skins. These programs work with cultural and religious communities, including the Shembe Church in South Africa and the Barotse Royal Establishment in Zambia, linking cultural practice with reduced pressure on wild-cat populations. Rabinowitz remained chief executive until 2017, when Frederic Launay succeeded him. Thomas Kaplan served as board chair until 2021, when Jonathan Ayers became chairman of the board of trustees. Panthera's present model combines international scientific programs with local implementation, government partnerships, grant-making and public advocacy. It remains an active conservation organization rather than a conventional commercial brand.

1. 2022Synthetic ceremonial garments reach Zambia's Kuomboka Festival

   The Saving Spots initiative provides synthetic wild-cat garments for traditional use by the Lozi people.

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2. 2021Jonathan Ayers becomes board chair

   Jonathan Ayers succeeds Thomas S. Kaplan as chairman of Panthera's board of trustees.

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3. 2017Frederic Launay becomes president and CEO

   Launay succeeds Alan Rabinowitz as the organization's chief executive.

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4. 2014Long-term philanthropic commitments announced

   The Kaplan family and other donors announce substantial multi-year commitments to support Panthera's conservation work.

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5. 2010Jaguar corridor and tiger-reserve initiatives expand

   Panthera supports jaguar-corridor work in Belize and Colombia and contributes to efforts associated with the expansion of Myanmar's Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve.

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6. 2006Panthera is founded

   Alan Rabinowitz and Thomas S. Kaplan establish Panthera as a wild-cat conservation organization.

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A specialist, science-led international conservation organization devoted to wild cats, combining field research with habitat connectivity, protected-area security, community partnerships and practical coexistence solutions.

• Jaguar Corridor InitiativeSpecies and landscape conservation

  A transnational conservation strategy designed to maintain connected habitat for jaguars from Mexico through Central and South America. The program combines movement research, corridor mapping, protected-area support, government engagement and community outreach. Its rationale is that jaguars need to move between populations to maintain ecological resilience and genetic exchange. Projects have included work in Belize, Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil, including cooperation with ranchers to reduce conflict.

• Tigers ForeverTiger conservation

  A tiger-conservation program focused on improving protection and population recovery across important Asian landscapes. Its regional vision includes a large connected area extending through Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, with potential links to additional Southeast Asian countries. Activities include field monitoring, protected-area collaboration and support for strategies intended to increase tiger numbers.

• Panthera Snow Leopard ProgramSnow leopard conservation

  A research and community-conservation program operating in Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia. It surveys known and potential snow-leopard habitat, works with herding communities to reduce retaliatory killing and supports practical measures such as livestock vaccination. The program addresses both predator conservation and the economic pressures experienced by pastoral communities.

• Furs for Life InitiativeCommunity conservation

  A partnership-based initiative that supplies synthetic alternatives to traditional wild-cat skins. In South Africa it has worked with the Shembe Church, helping reduce demand for authentic leopard skins while respecting ceremonial practice. The initiative illustrates Panthera's use of culturally informed solutions rather than relying solely on enforcement or restrictions.

• Saving Spots InitiativeCommunity conservation

  A southern African program developed with the Barotse Royal Establishment of the Lozi people to provide synthetic wild-cat garments for traditional dress. The initiative links cultural continuity with reduced use of real animal skins and has supported ceremonial needs including Zambia's Kuomboka Festival.

• 2022Saving Spots

  Zambia

  Panthera worked with the Barotse Royal Establishment to provide synthetic alternatives for Lozi traditional dress.

  Outcome. Synthetic garments were supplied during the Kuomboka Festival.

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• 2010Jaguar Corridor Initiative

  Mexico · Central America · South America

  Panthera promoted connected jaguar habitat and supported corridor projects, government agreements and community programs across the species' range.

  Outcome. The initiative became one of Panthera's central international conservation programs.

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• 2006Panthera wild-cat conservation platform

  Global

  Panthera was established around the goal of conserving all 40 wild-cat species through science, field protection and partnerships.

  Outcome. The organization developed a global portfolio covering large cats, small cats, habitats and conservation capacity.

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• Furs for Life

  South Africa

  Synthetic ceremonial garments were developed with the Shembe Church as an alternative to traditional wild-cat skins.

  Outcome. More than 18,500 synthetic capes had reportedly been distributed to the church according to the reference material.

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• 2021Change in board chairOther

  Thomas S. Kaplan completed his period as chairman of Panthera's board of trustees.

  What changed. Jonathan Ayers succeeded Kaplan as board chair.

  Aftermath. Kaplan remained associated with wild-cat conservation through the Global Alliance for Wild Cats, while Panthera continued under Ayers's board leadership.

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• 2017Leadership transition to Frederic LaunayStrategy

  After Alan Rabinowitz led Panthera for many years, the organization changed its chief executive leadership.

  What changed. Frederic Launay became president and CEO.

  Aftermath. Panthera continued its global species programs under new executive leadership.

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• 2022Panthera distributes synthetic ceremonial wild-cat garments

  Through the Furs for Life and Saving Spots initiatives, Panthera supported synthetic alternatives to traditional wild-cat skins, including garments supplied for Zambia's Kuomboka Festival.

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• 2017Frederic Launay succeeds Alan Rabinowitz as Panthera CEO

  French scientist Frederic Launay became president and chief executive officer after Rabinowitz's long tenure leading the organization.

  Leadership change
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• 2014Kaplan family and partners announce major support for Panthera

  Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati Kaplan pledged $20 million over ten years, while several additional donors announced pledges of the same amount.

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• 2010Panthera establishes the Labouring Creek Jaguar Corridor Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize

  Panthera worked with the Belizean government to establish a protected area of more than 7,000 acres as part of its broader jaguar-corridor strategy.

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• 2010Panthera supports expansion of Myanmar's Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve

  The organization helped bring together government and local political representatives during efforts that expanded the tiger reserve by approximately 11,000 square kilometres.

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• 2010Panthera and Colombian authorities cooperate on jaguar corridors

  Panthera entered a cooperation arrangement with Colombia concerning protection and development of the area where Central and South American jaguar corridors meet.

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1. Panthera Corporation
2. Panthera official website