Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio aim to save 100 threatened species with new $200 million venture

DiCaprio has for years been developing the idea of a major concerted effort to help species whose habitats and future existence are threatened by climate change - (Getty Images)

Foundations backed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos have launched an unprecedented $200 million initiative to revive 100 of Earth's most threatened species, including endangered lemurs, salamanders, pangolins, pigs and echidnas.

DiCaprio's Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund are leading the Phoenix Species Project, the groups announced Tuesday. They call it the largest single fund in history dedicated exclusively to recovering critically endangered species.