Jeff Bezos slammed for $200M project to protect endangered species

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio on a huge conservation project aimed at saving some of the world's most endangered animals.

The Amazon founder and Hollywood actor are backing the Phoenix Species Project, which is a philanthropic initiative designed to support the recovery of 100 critically endangered species.

The initiative has been described as a $200 million effort focused on saving various species that are considered to be at serious risk of disappearing.

DiCaprio took to Instagram to announce the project, where he wrote: “This is the @phoenixspeciesproject. A $200 million commitment to bring 100 of the world’s most threatened species back from the brink. The largest single philanthropic initiative ever dedicated to the recovery of Critically Endangered species, across 30 countries.

“My organization @rewild, along with @bezosearthfund, have launched the Phoenix Species Project with support from @ageofunion and the @toddgraves Family Foundation.

“The species span mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, invertebrates, and plants. This includes the Sumatran Rhino from Indonesia, the Indri from Madagascar, and the world’s heaviest parrot, the Kākāpō, from New Zealand.”

The Phoenix Species Project was officially launched this month and targets long-term recovery and habitat restoration for 100 of the world's most critically endangered plants and animals across 30 countries.

The project is largest endorsed by Bezos and DiCaprio, as well as investments from Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos.

However, despite the seemingly philanthropic endeavor, the post has now been limited after both DiCaprio and Bezos received backlash, with some describing the move as greenwashing, which is someone puts an eco-friendly gloss on their image while the bigger environmental impact might tell a very different story.

Jeff Bezos is accused of greenwashing

This is actually not the first time that the term has been thrown at Bezos, who previously experienced backlash for the negative environmental impacts of Amazon.

Many accused the billionaire of greenwashing he pledged $10 billion to his own Bezos Earth Fund.

Reacting to the news on Reddit, one user wrote: “How many of those species are being endangered by Bezos’ rockets, data centers, and promotion of mass consumerism? Make it over a billion dollars and maybe I’ll care. Maybe.”

Another said: “Rich people be like: we donating to save the animals so we can write off our taxes this year, but bombing human children is fine with us.”

A third person commented: “If Jeff Bezos actually cared about the environment, he'd give his entire wealth away AND use his influence to keep environmental policies in tact as well as improve them.

“As for Leo, well, greenwashing is part of his brand. Claims to be an environmentalist, but spends his free time on yachts.”

Tough crowd!