DiCaprio, Bezos Fund $200M to Save 100 Endangered Species

The world's most endangered animals just got two powerful allies with deep pockets and a serious commitment to their survival.

Leonardo DiCaprio's conservation group Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund have launched the Phoenix Species Project, dedicating $200 million to save 100 critically endangered species from extinction. It's the largest fund ever focused exclusively on species recovery.

The project targets animals teetering on the brink, including the Galápagos pink land iguana, the Malayan pangolin, and Tanzania's pancake tortoise. These aren't just cute animals worth saving for their own sake, though they absolutely are.

When keystone species disappear, entire ecosystems can unravel. Healthy animal populations support clean water, fertile soils, pollination, and the climate stability that human communities depend on for food and safety.

Losing species weakens forests, wetlands, and coastlines that protect against flooding and extreme weather. It can also devastate tourism economies and livelihoods tied to nature.

The idea sparked during a 2021 meeting between Bezos, DiCaprio, Re:wild CEO Wes Sechrest, and Lauren Sanchez Bezos, vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund. From there, the team consulted with Indigenous peoples, environmental groups, and local governments to understand what species recovery really requires.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this project different is that it builds on existing conservation work that's already showing promise. Many smaller efforts have demonstrated success but struggle with consistent long-term funding.

The Phoenix Species Project provides sustained backing for the slow, unglamorous work that actually saves species, like habitat restoration and community partnerships. It amplifies the expertise of local groups and Indigenous leaders who know these landscapes best.

By combining money, technical support, and global attention, the initiative gives recovery plans the stability they need to succeed over years and decades, not just months. That kind of patient investment is exactly what desperate species need right now.

This is hope with a plan, and it's backed by the resources to make it real.