About Panthera
PANTHERA is the largest international non-governmental organization working specifically for the conservation of wild felines on our planet and their habitats.
Founded in 2006 in the USA by philanthropists Thomas Kaplan and Daphne Recanati-Kaplan following their meeting with biologists Alan Rabinowitz and Georges Schaller, PANTHERA today brings together the most eminent specialists in these animals, experts in site security, as well as lawyers and other professionals, who develop and implement various innovative conservation strategies – both at the local level and at diplomatic and governmental scales – to protect felines and the vast environments in which they live.
Present in 36 countries around the world, and with the help of its various branches including the French-speaking branch PANTHERA FRANCE created in 2016, Panthera works with a wide variety of stakeholders to reduce and eliminate the most pressing threats facing felines to ensure them a future.
« We decided to commit alongside Panthera in order to take an active part in this environmental fight which is in line with the continuity of our establishment and its philosophy. Lumigny Safari Reserve, whose experience in reproduction is well established, is now taking a step further with this higher commitment in favor of the conservation of threatened species. Beyond informing our visitors about the threats facing our planet, its natural environments and wildlife, Lumigny Safari Reserve will now contribute to protecting these magnificent species from extinction, whose animals are true ambassadors cherished by our teams in our large enclosures. Panthera is one of the most effective NGOs in the field and provides us with a guarantee regarding the use of the funds donated. We know that our financial support and the donations that our visitors will be able to make – whether the 2 euros given by a little girl who fell in admiration before our cheetahs or the hundreds of euros regularly given by feline enthusiasts sensitive to this cause – will be entirely allocated to field programs and will be used appropriately in this conservation objective because Panthera has the experience and expertise in this matter and has provided since its creation proof of its seriousness with actions with concrete positive results. » Hugo JARDIN, President, and Jonathan Patin, Director.
To commit alongside us for the protection of felines, visit panthera and panthera france.
You can also make a donation in the various collection boxes in the park or pick up the Panthera membership form from our reception team.
What can your donations be used for?
Below are some examples of concrete actions carried out by Panthera in the field.
- Furs for Life Program.
In South Africa, among the Zulus of the Shembe church, worship celebrations bring together tens of thousands of people throughout the year. The formal attire of these ritual celebrations includes a kind of leopard skin cape worn bare-chested, a species symbolizing power for them. Rather than presenting things in a conflictual way to community members by denouncing the use of these furs, Panthera has developed since 2013 the Fur For Life program, corresponding to a good practice exchange: providing the Shembe with synthetic capes perfectly imitating leopard fur, in exchange for no longer capturing leopards from the wild for new furs. From 2014 to 2017, more than 18,000 synthetic capes were distributed, resulting in a 50% reduction in the use of real furs.
- Develop PoacherCams.
Camera traps have long been used by biologists to quantify populations and study the biology of many species. Panthera has developed several camera traps for their use, including the PoacherCam (Poacher Trap) which is equipped with immediate satellite transmission to the ranger base camp. Equipped with an algorithm capable of differentiating humans from other animal species, PoacherCams allow ranger patrols to be alerted in real time in case of human intrusion into a protected area. Even if the poacher spots the camera trap and destroys it, it’s too late for him, the photo is already transmitted to the rangers and competent authorities…
This list remains non-exhaustive of the hundreds of initiatives carried out by Panthera around the world…
Support for Niokolo-Koba National Park: a refuge for biodiversity
Since 2020, Lumigny Safari Reserve has been actively engaged in protecting Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal, a territory listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered one of the last refuges for West African felines. Thanks to our financial support, several essential measures have been put in place to preserve this unique ecosystem.
Our contributions made it possible to train and equip ranger teams, intensify anti-poaching patrols and install surveillance devices designed to combat illegal exploitation of natural resources. These concerted efforts resulted in a significant reduction in poaching and promoted the reappearance of emblematic species such as the lion, leopard, chimpanzee and elephant.
In parallel, recent observations reveal an increase in herbivore populations, a key indicator of the restoration of the park’s ecosystems. To date, Lumigny Safari Reserve has invested €33,289 in this conservation program, thus affirming its commitment to the sustainable preservation of African wildlife.
Commitment to tiger protection in Thailand
In 2023, Lumigny Safari Reserve strengthened its commitment to feline conservation by supporting a crucial program for the survival of the Indochinese tiger in Thailand, in collaboration with Panthera. This subspecies, classified as critically endangered, sees its populations fragmented and threatened by poaching and habitat destruction.
Through this partnership, several strategic actions have been implemented, notably the installation of PoacherCams, intelligent cameras capable of detecting and reporting in real time any human intrusion into protected areas. In addition, detailed mapping of tiger territories was carried out to optimize surveillance and protection efforts. Finally, the strengthening of ecological corridors now makes it possible to facilitate tiger movement between different protected areas, thus reducing their genetic isolation.
To date, Lumigny Safari Reserve has invested €21,487 in this program, affirming its commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for the last wild tigers of Southeast Asia.
Ongoing collaboration
In February 2025, Lumigny Safari Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to the preservation of wild tigers by making a donation of €10,000 to Panthera, the leading NGO for feline conservation. This amount will be entirely dedicated to tiger protection in the wild, a species now classified as critically endangered.
This donation, officially presented by our president Hugo Jardin to Grégory Breton, director of Panthera for Europe and West and Central Africa, will make it possible to strengthen surveillance of tiger populations, combat poaching and illegal trafficking, and preserve natural habitats by promoting harmonious coexistence with local communities.
Through this partnership, we actively contribute to a future where tigers can evolve safely in their natural environment. Every action counts for the conservation of these majestic felines, and we are proud to provide our support to Panthera and its teams committed daily in the field.
Do you wish to support these projects? Make a donation on panthera or panthera france, or deposit your contribution in one of the collection boxes in the park with our reception team.
