i’ve always wanted to own a big cat. (yep, this is actually a line item on my bucket list… hey! it wouldn’t be a bucket list if it weren’t ambitious!)  and, for my 35th birthday, i’ve decided that i am going to ‘adopt’ an amur leopard!

amur leopards are the world's most critically endangered big cat (well, you wouldn’t expect me to adopt just any old lion or cheetah, would you?!?!)

Learn more:

- estimated population of 35 left in the wild - most critically endangered big cat on the planet 

- indiscriminate logging, forest fires and land conversion for farming are blamed for destroying 80% of its former territory

- prey scarcity in suitable alternative territories means the population can’t be moved and the leopard’s preference for deer (who doesn’t like a little venison for dinner?!?) cause conflict with the nearby deer farms as hangry leopards are killed in retaliation

- illegal poaching also an enormous problem

- low population means risks of inbreeding and its inherent health problems

therefore, it's clear that my amur leopard will require: land, food, a bodyguard and a matchmaker!

luckily for me, i have found a single organisation that is already providing all of this for amur leopards! it’s called the amur leopard and tiger alliance (alta). formed of 15 international and russian NGOs, alta operates through the zoological society of london (our beloved zsl is their umbrella charity). even better is that all of alta’s administration costs are covered by a grant and therefore, 100% of donations goes into field efforts. alta is a small, focused organisation and these critical funds make an enormous impact.

so, please donate now. while this effort is solely my own, my generous employer will match my donation drive (including your contributions) TO a yearly mAXIMUM, HOWEVER, THIS RESETS EVERY January, so please donate sooner vERSUs later SO I CAN take full advantage for Alta fOR 2013. if you are a uk taxpayer, PLEASE TICK THE BOX FOR GIFT AID AND TOP UP YOUR DONATION AT NO COST TO YOU! donations are immediately forwarded to alta.