Canadian singer Shania Twain has been appointed global ambassador for cat conservation organisation Panthera, launching its new leopard conservation initiative, Project Pardus.

Twain commented 'The image and spirit of the leopard is an inspiration to millions around the world, including myself. That it is also the most oppressed of the big cats is almost unknown. If we're to save this animal in the wild, we have to get ahead of the curve before it suffers the same fate as so many other species that we once felt to be secure in their numbers'.