This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend a pre-screening of the groundbreaking documentary The Unlikely Leopard at NG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The captivating movie, filmed over the course of two years, follows a leopard cub from just after birth, until the day his mother abandons him. The filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert, create a narrative that is at once entertaining, comical, and educational, bringing to light the plight of animals throughout the world. The film is laced with conservation messages, giving viewers a true sense of the challenges faced by leopards and other “big cats” trying to survive in the 21st Century.
As part of the NG Live! public event series, the filmmakers took part in a question-and-answer session following the screening. They spoke passionately about the lack of protection for big cats worldwide, and the growing impact of the fashion industry on the trade of animal skins.
To add muster to their message, The Jouberts, together with National Geographic, have created the Big Cats Initiative to promote research and advocacy on behalf of the world’s largest felines. The catchy campaign, “Cause an Uproar“, encourages citizens to spread awareness about big cats and the steps that can be taken to safeguard their survival.
Check out this PSA to get started:
How can you get even more involved? Teachers can visit our Big Cats
Education Collection to find case studies, videos, activities, quizzes, explorer profiles,
and interactive maps for use with K-12 students.
Also, visit our blog archives for additional coverage of the Big Cats Initiative.
- Big Cats Initiative
- Big Cats Education Collection
- Five Reasons to Save Big Cats: According to Kids
- Five for Friday: Last Lions
And finally, just in case you need one last piece of encouragement…if Betty White can get involved, so can you!