Panthera Africa is a non-profit organization founded by Lizaene Cornwall and Cathrine S. Nyquist. The name Panthera Africa is inspired by the passion Lizaene and Cathrine have for the four pantheras: panthera leo, the lion; panthera pardus, the leopard; panthera onca, the jaguar; and panthera tigris, the tiger.

Panthera Africa is an environmentally-friendly sanctuary for any captive-bred rescued big cats, where they will be protected and prosper for the rest of their lives.

One of Panthera Africa’s main purposes is to be an educational platform to create awareness about the conditions big cats face in captivity, how together we can end this exploitative industry, and how holistic animal welfare and enrichment play a vital role in giving them the best captive life possible. They are a true sanctuary where no hands-on interaction, breeding or trading takes place. They are a blueprint of how a non-profit sanctuary focusing on animal welfare can become self-sufficient, and aim to assist in changing breeding facilities into sustainable, ethical projects where possible. Panthera Africa believes in the connection between both environmental and wildlife conservation, and aim to become the first green big cat sanctuary in South Africa that runs solely on solar energy.

Panthera Africa has found its 110-hectare paradise with a beautiful home for their animals, staff, founders, and the many volunteers who visit. The land is filled with lots of large trees, a natural spring and an amazing 180-degree mountain view. Panthera Africa strongly believe in the saying “In unity there is strength” and by standing together—human and animal—they believe in the possibility of a prosperous future for big cats.