Tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, snow leopards and pumas. Once upon a time these mammals dominated jungles, savannahs and mountains with their soft-footed tread and the elusiveness typical of felines, capable of vanishing like ghosts. Today they risk disappearing for real.

Over the last 20 years, according to the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the number of lions has fallen by 30 per cent, tigers have gone from 50,000 half a century ago to the current 3,200 — fewer than the number found in captivity in the United States — there are currently 50,000 leopards living in the wild, while only 10,000 adult cheetahs still sprint across the savannah. Bad news too for the snow leopard, of which only 5,000 individuals remain.

A group of philanthropists from China, India, the United Arab Emirates and the United States has formed an alliance to safeguard these animals by funding Panthera, the leading organisation for the conservation of big cats and their habitat. This unprecedented alliance has succeeded in raising eighty million dollars, which will be used over ten years to preserve these mammals at risk of extinction. "The agreement reached marks a turning point for global wild cat conservation," said Thomas Kaplan, founder of Panthera. "It is the beginning of a journey that will bring together different countries united by a common cause."

"Our alliance is open to everyone," explains Alan Rabinowitz of Panthera. "We are inviting people from every corner of the world to join our coalition. It is still possible to secure the future of these animals and their ecosystems and to preserve them for generations to come." Around the world, big cats face a number of threats, including deforestation, habitat loss, a reduction in prey numbers and poaching. Hunters also have a particular "fondness" for these animals — lions and tigers are the most coveted hunting trophies.

Like all animals at the top of the food chain, big cats play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystems they are part of. Panthera will use the funds raised for multi-year projects to protect 38 species of wild felid, with a particular focus on tigers, lions, jaguars, snow leopards, cheetahs, clouded leopards, pumas and leopards.