The Big Cat Sanctuary Established as the World’s First Centre for Species Survival Partnership For Wild Cat Conservation Globally

The Sanctuary joins a prestigious group of just thirty Centres worldwide that are uniquely positioned as hubs for species conservation, which are strategic partnerships that advance species conservation through science, fieldwork, and collaboration. These Centres accelerate the IUCN Red List assessments, develop and implement species recovery strategies, and promote evidence-based conservation. Working closely with the CatSG, the Sanctuary will support efforts to protect all 40 wild cat species from well-known icons like the Sumatran tiger and Iberian lynx to lesser-known species such as the African golden cat and jaguarundi.

“Our ambition has always been to be global leaders in the conservation of both big and small cats. Becoming the first IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival for cats globally is both an honour and a testament to our team’s work and commitment. We’ll continue to drive conservation, advance science, build vital partnerships, and work tirelessly for a future where wild cats can thrive.” said Cam Whitnall, conservationist, wildlife expert, and Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary.

As part of this initiative, two full-time Species Survival Officers will be based at The Big Cat Sanctuary. They will work in close partnership with the IUCN SSC Chair’s Office and CatSG to advance research, build capacity, and drive impactful conservation efforts for wild cat species globally. The role will focus on connecting populations and expertise held within zoos and sanctuaries to field researchers, government agencies, and conservation practitioners, ensuring a unified, science-led approach to protecting the world’s most threatened cat species.

“Wild cats are some of the planet’s most iconic yet vulnerable species. This partnership with The Big Cat Sanctuary significantly enhances our ability to assess, protect, and recover wild cat populations worldwide. Having dedicated officers embedded at the Sanctuary will make a real difference,” said Christine Breitenmoser, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group.

Located in Kent, UK, The Big Cat Sanctuary is home to around 40 cats from 14 species, many of which are classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List. The Sanctuary is committed to conservation through expert animal care, international breeding programmes, education, and scientific research, while also providing a safe haven for rescued cats whose stories raise awareness of global threats.

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About The Big Cat Sanctuary

Set in Smarden in the heart of the Kent countryside, The Big Cat Sanctuary is a globally recognised centre dedicated to the conservation and rescue of wild cats. Home to around 40 cats from 14 different species, many of which are endangered or vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the Sanctuary plays a vital role in protecting some of the planet’s most iconic species from extinction. Our mission is grounded in five key pillars: Welfare, Breeding, Education, Conservation, and Rescue. We contribute to accredited international breeding programmes, work alongside global partners to improve animal welfare, and carry out life-changing rescue operations, including the relocation of five lions from war-torn Ukraine between 2024 and 2025. For further information, visit www.thebigcatsanctuary.org 

About the IUCN Species Survival Commission

With over 11,500 members in 186 territories, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of the seven expert Commissions of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)  and enables it to influence, encourage and assist societies to conserve biodiversity by building knowledge on the status and threats to species, providing advice, developing policies and guidelines, facilitating conservation planning, and catalysing conservation action. The SSC has been recognised as “the world's largest volunteer conservation-science network” by Guinness World Records®. Learn more at www.iucn.org/ssc. 
 

Centers for Species Survival (CSS) are partnerships between the SSC Chair’s Office and leading species conservation organisations. They empower dedicated partner-based staff teams of at least one full-time staff member, to work closely with relevant SSC Groups in catalysing priority efforts for assess-plan-act at various geographic scales or taxonomic or thematic focuses. 

About the SSC Cat Specialist Group

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Cat Specialist Group (CSG) is a global network of experts dedicated to the conservation of wild cats and their habitats. As part of the SSC, the CSG coordinates research, monitoring, and conservation strategies for all 40 species of wild cats worldwide, ranging from tigers and lions to lesser-known species like the fishing cat. The group supports the IUCN Red List assessments and promotes practical conservation actions to safeguard these iconic carnivores. For more information, visit https://www.catsg.org/.