Leonardo DiCaprio Praises Armenia’s Role in Global Effort to Save Endangered Species

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has spotlighted Armenia’s role in a new international campaign to save endangered wildlife, praising an initiative launched by 17 countries at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Yerevan.

In an Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actor and environmental activist highlighted the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), led by Armenia and Colombia. The coalition brings governments together to help threatened species recover, rather than simply prevent them from disappearing.

“Preventing extinction isn’t enough. We need to bring threatened species back from the brink and recover them,” DiCaprio wrote.

The announcement was accompanied by a major financial commitment from the Species Recovery Alliance, a separate initiative established by nine philanthropic funders and organizations, including Re, a conservation group affiliated with DiCaprio.

The alliance plans to direct more than $500 million over five years toward protecting and restoring some of the world's most threatened wildlife, including species classified as Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered and Endangered.

The two initiatives will operate independently but share a goal: helping endangered species rebuild their populations through long-term conservation programs, international cooperation and financial support.

DiCaprio congratulated the governments and organizations behind the efforts, welcoming the commitments announced in Yerevan.

Armenia is hosting COP17, one of the United Nations' major environmental conferences, where government representatives, scientists and conservation organizations are discussing how to protect wildlife and restore damaged ecosystems.

With Armenia and Colombia leading the new coalition, the announcements have also brought international attention to Yerevan's role in efforts to reverse the decline of endangered species.

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