Celebrate Endangered Species Day with SpiritHoods & Our Nonprofit Partners

Snow Leopard Conservancy

Snow Leopard Conservancy was founded in 2000 by Dr. Rodney Jackson, a leading expert on snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and their habitat. Dr. Jackson was actually the first to successfully implement VHF radio collar technology to monitor and study snow leopards in the wild. 

In the '80s, National Geographic did a cover story featuring Dr. Jackson as he tracked five cats in the wild. The study produced an extensive body of information. 

The study examined:

diet

preferred habitat

home range size

abundance and density

marking behaviors specific to snow leopards

To Dr. Jackson, however, the real goal was to help local communities learn to coexist with this elusive predator. So Dr. Jackson teamed up with Darla Hillard to continue working with rural communities. The goal was to develop grassroots interventions, including predator-proofed corrals, Himalayan Homestays, and other economic incentives that would transform the snow leopard from a pest to a valuable asset in the eyes of these communities, keeping them safe from animal extinction.

Today, the conservancy actively partners with local communities in Bhutan, India, Altai and Buryat Republics of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Nepal, and Pakistan. Their incredible efforts to spread knowledge and awareness to help this endangered species are why we love working with them.

Predator Defense

Predator Defense aims to protect native predators and end America’s war on wildlife. Established in 1990, Predator Defense (originally named the Cascade Wildlife Rescue) filled a critical need for predator species protection as well as predator rehabilitation.

Between 1990 and 1994, the organization served two purposes before ultimately narrowing down its focus to what it is today. First, it provided quality rehabilitation for predators, including bears, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, and foxes. Secondly, it was an active voice for predator species protection.

Over time, finding suitable release sites for rehabilitated endangered animals became incredibly difficult, and public management policies were failing to protect predators and their habitats. In addition, the rampant use of predator control methods (such as leg-hold traps, poisons, snares, aerial gunning, bounties, and designated hunting seasons) severely impacted existing populations. As a result, it became increasingly more difficult for rehabilitated endangered animals to have a second chance.

In 1995, the organization closed its rehabilitation center and embarked on a new path—focusing its resources on protecting predator species more broadly. 

Predator Defense is a national nonprofit advocacy organization funded primarily by member donations. They are a 501©(3), and all contributions are tax-deductible per IRS guidelines: FEIN #93-1028893.

Panthera

Panthera is the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat endangered species and their ecosystems. Panthera develops and implements global strategies specifically for seven species of wild cats, utilizing the world's premier cat biologists' expertise.

The 7 species of wild cats include:

cheetahs

leopards

jaguars

lions

pumas (aka mountain lions or cougars)

snow leopards

tigers 

Panthera also studies and protects the world’s most threatened endangered species of small cats through their Small Cats Program, doing their best to keep them off the animal extinction list. Representing the most comprehensive effort of its kind, Panthera partners with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities, and governments around the globe. They also partner with citizens who want to help ensure a bright future for these endangered animals. They aim to help the wild cats and the vast landscapes on which they depend.

Panthera works to protect the world’s 40 wild cat species because it is a winning strategy for conserving the ecosystems on which these cats and thousands of plant and animal species depend.

The presence of wild cats (or, as Panthera likes to call them, our “landscape guardians”) indicates healthy, intact ecosystems that support all life, including people from all around the world. Panthera’s core programs focus on implementing conservation strategies for some of the world’s most imperiled large cats—tigers, lions, jaguars, snow leopards, cheetahs, pumas, and leopards. Panthera’s scientists also implement conservation and research initiatives on many of the 31 smaller wild cat species around the globe. While their efforts are primarily focused on saving these endangered species, the impacts of their efforts reach far, far beyond.

Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International (PBI) is the only organization on the planet dedicated solely to wild polar bears. Their mission is to conserve these beautiful, endangered animals and the sea ice they depend on. Made up of a small group of passionate conservationists, scientists, and volunteers, PBI exists to help secure a future for polar bears across the Arctic. Through media, science, and advocacy, PBI works to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and our global climate.

PBI’s commitment to innovation, science, and technology fuels their day-to-day, but it’s hope that sustains their vision. They persevere through sheer drive and optimism. Collaborative by trait, PBI pushes to move beyond borders, silos, and bottom lines to prove the phenomenal impact we can have together as a global community.

PBI’s story goes beyond the plight of the endangered animal because they know that humans are not opposed to the visible threats to our global ecosystem. The final act is unwritten, and PBI uses every resource available to facilitate action, combat the belief that it's too late, and unify the world into action.

Animal Tracks Inc.

Animal Tracks Inc. strives to educate the public through outreach and up-close animal encounters. In addition, they work to provide a safe and happy home for endangered animals that cannot be returned to their natural habitats. 

The Animal Tracks Sanctuary is home to over 30 animal residents—many illegally sold on the black market. People who didn't understand how to care for these magnificent creatures were keeping them as exotic pets, often causing devastating consequences to the animals’ well-being.

Today, these lovely animals get to live in habitats created just for them with proper nutrition, excellent health care, loving interaction, and the ability to roam the grounds. Find out how you can support their effort to secure a healthy future for these endangered animals.

Pawsitive Beginnings

Located in Key Largo, Florida, Pawsitive Beginnings is the ONLY 501©(3) animal rescue in the Florida Keys that takes in foxes saved from the fur trade. Their mission is to educate the public on the unethical practice of fur farming and how we can ALL do our part to help make fur history.

Pawsitive Beginnings provides a safe and happy home for the foxes they take in who have been rescued from torturous fur farms. Moreover, they do amazing things for animal rights activism, participating in various events, and even doing what they can to help spread powerful information to the general public on animal extinction, cruelty, and more.

You can help by donating to their cause, sponsoring a fox, or sending them a gift from their Amazon Wishlist. As an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, all gifts/donations to Pawsitive Beginnings are tax-deductible.

Pawsitive Beginnings maintains that the most significant thing people can do to protest the fur farms still operating today is to stop buying products that contain real fur/pelt. If the demand for real animal fur goes away, then the need to senselessly kill these beautiful, endangered animals will as well. <3

You can take the pledge to live fur-free below. This link will take you to the Voters for Animal Rights website, where the pledge form is located.