This week is Big Cat Week on Nat Geo Wild television. Big Cat Week is an extension of National Geographic’s Big Cat Initiative, and it features several shows about big cats on the National Geographic Channel everyday this week.

The Big Cat Initiative is National Geographic’s long-term commitment to stop poaching, save habitats, and declare that strong steps are needed to save big cats around the world. Big cats include lions, cheetahs, leopards, tigers, jaguars, and other top felines. The Initiative is made up of conservationists led by National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. While Dereck and Beverly are working with several different groups on big cat conservation projects, they also want students to help save lions! Students can write letters to lions and the Jouberts will deliver them to African leaders to let them know how important lions are to kids everywhere.

Check out the Big Cat Initiative webpage on the National Geographic website. Watch videos, read about individual cats, and explore the Lion Decline Timeline and map, which illustrate how rapidly the lion population has declined in the past two centuries, and what will happen to current populations if strong conservation steps are not taken.

Stay tuned to the My Wonderful World Blog and look out for our Big Cat Week Five for Friday feature in which we will highlight five Big Cats!