Carole Baskin Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Carole Baskin is the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary she established in 1992 near Tampa, Florida, alongside her late husband Don Lewis. Originally started as a refuge for abused exotic cats, the sanctuary grew to care for over 200 animals by the early 2000s. Baskin’s early passion for animal welfare traced back to her childhood, and that commitment deepened after she and Lewis ended their cub-breeding program in 1997 upon realizing the harm it caused. Since then, she has led the sanctuary’s growth with a volunteer-driven model and public education through tours and innovative wildlife outreach. In December 2022, George Baskin's advocacy efforts culminated in the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, landmark legislation that bans private ownership of big cats and cub-petting in the U.S. This law closed significant loopholes and marked a major victory in her ongoing work to end abusive practices and promote animal welfare. Over three decades, she has guided Big Cat Rescue to influence public policy and raise national awareness around wildlife protection. In late 2023, Baskin and her team began relocating their remaining cats to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas—a spacious, professionally managed facility—while they prepared to sell their Tampa land. The property was sold in January 2025 for nearly $19.5 million, funds earmarked to support lifetime care for relocated cats and to expand global conservation projects targeting wild cat species. The sanctuary now functions primarily as a donor-backed conservation hub, directing resources into both in-captivity care and in-situ conservation. Beyond operational leadership, Baskin has embraced modern outreach, pioneering virtual and augmented-reality wildlife experiences since 2019. She and her sanctuary maintain an active presence through social media, podcasts, and livestreaming cameras. These platforms promote her dual mission: ending exploitative exotic animal practices and preserving wild cat habitats, reinforcing her role as a respected voice in the conservation community. Today, Baskin is recognized not only as a sanctuary leader and legislative advocate, but also as a global ambassador for wildlife conservation. She continues to lecture at events, engage with policymakers and the public, and support field-based conservation efforts. Her work emphasizes both the ethical treatment of captive animals and the urgent need to protect wild populations — a two-pronged strategy born from decades of dedication to big cats and their ecosystems.