@stevewinterphoto @natgeo In an article in The Dodo, NG Explorer Dr. Jane Goodall says: “Lions, leopards, sable antelopes, giraffes and all the other sport or trophy animals are beautiful – but only in life. In death they represent the sad victims of a sadistic desire to attract praise from their friends at the expense of innocent creatures. And when they claim they respect their victims and experience emotions of happiness at the time of the killing, then surely this must be the joy of a diseased mind? “ Here a lioness waits for her turn to feed on a giraffe under the milky way. We need to make sure all the big cats, elephants, rhinos their other animal cousins and the landscape that is so important to them – and us is around for the future. If you save the forests of the world like the Amazon for the jaguar and puma, central African forests for lions, leopards elephants etc. the forests of India and south Asia for the tiger – we help save ourselves. 50% of our oxygen comes from forests – the other from our oceans. 75% of all fresh water in one way comes from forests. So the air we breathe and the water we drink comes from the homes of these precious animals. I photographed this lioness for my worldwide #leopard story, for @natgeo showcasing the world’s most adaptable, but persecuted, big cat. And for Nat Geo Wild a one hour TV program! Check out Nick Nichols Serengeti Lion site on natgeo.com National Geographic launched the Big Cats Initiative to raise awareness and implement change to the dire situation facing big cats. Please visit CauseAnUproar.org to find out more about Build a Boma and other ways to become involved to save big cats! @natgeocreative @thephotosociety #leopard #photooftheday #bigcatsforever #photojournalism #wildlife #animals #nature #swfoto by natgeo http://ift.tt/1O1Jkj8 – Gatlinburg Garden Castle Rainbow Tower Library Imagination Station Temple Water Spirit Guardian Labyrinth Treasury Magic Healing