The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently partnered with Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Geographic Society, and five-time Academy Award-nominee Glenn Close to create a powerful tool for helping educate the American public about the plight of disappearing great cats and wild dogs.
A 17-minute documentary titled “Living with Predators” premiered on Capitol Hill in April to an enthusiastic crowd of members of Congress, staff, not-for-profit representatives, and Federal agency employees. The documentary was produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society in partnership with the Service’s Division of International Conservation, and features moving National Geographic footage of such iconic species as lions, cheetahs, maned wolves, jaguars, snow leopards, and African wild dogs.
The documentary, narrated by Close, describes the plight of these creatures whose numbers are declining globally due to disease, loss of prey, loss of habitat, human-animal conflict, and genetic isolation. It also offers insight into a coalition of the world’s leading wildlife conservation organizations that are using their resources and influence to develop creative solutions to the challenges great cats and wild dogs are facing in their struggle for survival.
While the documentary realistically shows the threats against great cats and wild dogs, the message is one of hope, as it illustrates the passion and innovation of individuals and organizations committed to 
ensuring that there is still room in our planet’s future for these magnificent carnivores where wildlife and humans can co-exist.
Organizations featured in the film include Conservation International, Defenders of Wildlife, African Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
The documentary has been distributed as an educational tool to institutions that deal with wildlife issues, and will soon be sent to U.S. embassies and USAID missions around the world. Not-for-profit international wildlife conservation organizations will use the film to spread the message about imperiled carnivores to their own members and constituents.