Onçafari

What Onçafari does

Onçafari is a Brazilian non-profit association (Associação Onçafari), founded in 2011 and headquartered in São Paulo, that works to conserve Brazilian biodiversity across four biomes: Amazônia, Cerrado, Pantanal, and Mata Atlântica. The organization runs on a diversified revenue model comprising ecotourism experiences (delivered through partner lodges Refúgio Ecológico Caiman in the Pantanal and Pousada Trijunção in the Cerrado), a four-tier monthly giving program (Amigo da Onça), one-time and legacy donations (Sou Amigo da Fauna, Onçafari Legacy), corporate sponsorships (Mitsubishi, Defender, JHSF, among others), and branded merchandise via oncafari.me. Its customer base spans individual conservation supporters, corporate ESG partners, government and multilateral initiatives, and the conservation science community.

Operationally, Onçafari employs ~51 people across the São Paulo headquarters and field bases in the Pantanal, Cerrado, and Amazon, supplemented by a new 12-hectare Mata Atlântica reserve acquired in June 2026 in Capanema (PR) on the rio Iguaçu. Underlying capability rests on a proprietary jaguar habituation protocol adapted from South African leopard tracking, individual jaguar identification via spot patterns (27 individuals catalogued), camera-trap and GPS radio-collar monitoring, and a Forest Front that has accumulated 125,000+ hectares of protected reserves integrated into ecological corridors. The Jaguar Rivers Initiative connects ~2.5 million km² across Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay in partnership with Rewilding Argentina, Nativa, and Fundação Moisés Bertoni.

The organization delivers impact across eight program fronts (ecotourism, ciência, educação, reintrodução, social, florestas, anti-incêndio, and advocacy) and has won consecutive recognition among Brazil's 100 Best NGOs (2024, 2025) and the 2025 Best NGO in Environment and Sustainability award from Prêmio Melhores ONGs, with annual reports audited by Deloitte. Distribution channels combine direct digital channels (website, newsletter, e-commerce), partner lodges for ecotourism, and corporate engagement via the OnçaPartners annual closed event.

Name

Onçafari

Legal name

ASSOCIAÇÃO ONÇAFARI

Website

https://oncafari.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Onçafari is a Brazilian non-profit founded in 2011 that conserves biodiversity across four biomes (Amazônia, Cerrado, Pantanal, Mata Atlântica) via proprietary jaguar habituation, 125,000+ hectares of reserves, ecotourism through partner lodges, donations, and corporate ESG partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari & Game Drives (Land-Based) (THAAAEAC), Rainforest, Jungle & Canopy Experiences (THAJAIAE), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Ecotourism experiences
• Biodiversity protection programs
• Habitat corridor initiatives
• Fauna monitoring research

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ecotourism: Onçafari operates or partners with ecotourism lodges and safari experiences in the Pantanal (Caiman Pantanal) and Cerrado (Pousada Trijunção), where visitors pay for guided wildlife viewing tours focused on jaguars and maned wolves.
2. Donations and Membership: Recurring monthly donations via the 'Amigo da Onça' program (4 donation tiers) and one-time donations through the website. All funds are directed to conservation projects.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded products (clothing, accessories, books) through the Onçafari.me online store, with proceeds supporting conservation activities.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship and partnership agreements with companies (e.g., Mitsubishi for vehicles, Defender for field equipment) providing in-kind and financial support in exchange for association with the Onçafari brand and conservation outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Onçafari is a nonprofit association that conserves Brazilian biodiversity through land acquisition, species monitoring, anti-poaching, fire prevention, and ecological corridor creation across four biomes (Amazônia, Cerrado, Pantanal, Mata Atlântica). Its sellable offerings include guided ecotourism safaris (jaguar viewing in the Pantanal, maned wolf observation in the Cerrado), recurring and one-time donation programs (Amigo da Onça, Sou Amigo da Fauna, Onçafari Legacy), the international Jaguar Rivers Initiative, the Rodovias Seguras wildlife-roadkill prevention program, the OnçaKids children's education program, and branded merchandise through the Onçafari Loja.

Product overview

Onçafari is a Brazilian non-profit conservation organization focused on biodiversity preservation across four biomes: Amazônia, Cerrado, Pantanal, and Mata Atlântica. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs and services: ecotourism experiences (jaguar sightings in the Pantanal and maned wolf observation in the Cerrado), donation programs (Amigo da Onça monthly giving and Sou Amigo da Fauna), the international Jaguar Rivers Initiative for ecological corridor development, the Onçafari Legacy planned giving program, merchandise through the Onçafari Loja, and children's education via OnçaKids. The organization manages proprietary and partner research bases across Brazil and conducts scientific research, wildlife reintroduction, anti-poaching, and advocacy work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecoturismo Onçafari Guided wildlife-viewing safaris focused on jaguars in the Pantanal and maned wolves in the Cerrado, delivered through partner lodges and Onçafari-trained guides. Targets ecotourists seeking close, wild-animal encounters that fund conservation.
• Amigo da Onça

Quantifiable outcome

• 125,000+ hectares of land under active protection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Rewilding ArgentinaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Jaguar Rivers Initiative (JRI), an international effort to reconnect ecosystems along the Paraná Basin. Rewilding Argentina leads efforts in Argentina, collaborating with Onçafari (Brazil), Nativa (Bolivia), and Fundação Moisés Bertoni (Paraguai) to create a continental ecological corridor of approximately 2.5 million km².
• Nativa (Bolivia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolivian partner in the Jaguar Rivers Initiative, contributing to the continental ecological corridor effort spanning Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay along the Paraná Basin.
• Fundação Moisés Bertoni (Paraguai)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParaguayan partner in the Jaguar Rivers Initiative, collaborating with Onçafari, Rewilding Argentina, and Nativa to establish a continental wildlife corridor across South America.
• Refúgio Ecológico CaimancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner location for Onçafari's jaguar habituation and ecotourism operations in the Pantanal. The 53,000+ hectare private reserve hosts an estimated 45 jaguars and provides infrastructure for Onçafari's field operations since the project's inception in 2011.
• Pousada TrijunçãocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lodge in the Cerrado biome where Onçafari monitors maned wolves and other biodiversity. Onçafari conducts wildlife tracking and ecotourism experiences from this base.
• Tracker Academy (South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African organization that trained African trackers (Richard Zitha Mthabine and Andrea) who came to Brazil to teach jaguar tracking and habituation techniques to Brazilian team members. The partnership established the tracker training methodology adapted from South African wildlife conservation.
• Mitsubishi MotorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle partner providing support to Onçafari's field operations in the Pantanal since the project's inception. Mitsubishi vehicles are used for daily field work, tracking, and logistics.
• DefenderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment and experience partner supporting Onçafari's conservation and ecotourism activities. Defender Experience has collaborated on field programs in the Pantanal and extended partnership to the Cerrado region.
• Manacá PartnersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner that supported the Onçafari Leadership Encounter, contributing to leadership development activities and HR programming.
• Plataforma Semente / MPMGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Cerrado monitoring project supporting the naming of jaguar triplets from Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, working alongside Onçafari and CeMAIS.
• CeMAISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Cerrado jaguar monitoring initiative, collaborating on field research and data analysis alongside Onçafari and Plataforma Semente.
• JHSFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner whose São Paulo Catarina Aeroporto Executivo Internacional project includes jaguar (Puma concolor) monitoring by Onçafari. JHSF won the Prêmio ECO 2025 Amcham for this socio-environmental program, highlighting Onçafari's ecosystem work.
• GreenBondminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContent partner responsible for the website content and editorial management of oncafari.org, supporting public communications and digital presence.
• Parque Nacional do Iguaçu / Parque Nacional IguazúcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian and Argentine national parks forming a transboundary Mata Atlântica corridor. Onçafari's new 12-hectare reserve in Capanema is strategically positioned within this binational corridor to strengthen ecological connectivity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO with active programs in Brazilian biomes and biodiversity-credit initiatives. Comparable on corporate partnership monetization and corridor strategy, though with broader mandate and global reach.
• WWF-Brasil: Brazilian arm of the global WWF network, working across the same four biomes (Amazônia, Cerrado, Pantanal, Mata Atlântica). Comparable on biome coverage and corporate/individual fundraising, but with a much broader species and policy portfolio.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation land trust that pioneered large-scale land acquisition for conservation outcomes. Directly comparable on Onçafari's Forest Front reserve-acquisition strategy and ecological corridor thesis, with a more developed debt-and-deal toolbox.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large, established global conservation organization operating field programs across Latin America including jaguar range. Comparable in scientific, habitat-protection, and corridor-building activities, but at far greater scale and broader geographic remit.

Direct peers

• African Wildlife Foundation: Pioneer of community-based conservation and ecotourism integration in Africa, the model Onçafari explicitly adapted via Tracker Academy. Comparable as a habitat-and-wildlife NGO blending conservation, community, and tourism revenue.
• Rewilding Argentina: Direct partner in the Jaguar Rivers Initiative; operates the Argentine leg of the transboundary Paraná Basin corridor with a similar model combining rewilding, land acquisition, and ecotourism. Highly comparable in mission, geographic scope, and operating approach.
• Fundación Moisés Bertoni: Paraguayan conservation NGO and JRI partner coordinating the transboundary corridor on the Paraguayan side. Comparable as a country-level counterpart NGO with shared donor base, fieldwork, and corridor mandate.
• Nativa (Bolivia): Bolivian conservation NGO and JRI partner contributing to the same continental jaguar corridor as Onçafari. Directly comparable as a country-level counterpart with shared framework and donor base.
• Panthera: Global wild cat conservation organization with a dedicated jaguar program across Latin America. Closely comparable on species focus (jaguar), scientific rigor, and partnership-based field model.

Others

• Refúgio Ecológico Caiman: Pantanal private reserve and Onçafari's primary operational partner since 2011. Not a direct competitor but the channel through which Onçafari's jaguar habituation and ecotourism are delivered, making it the most economically entangled counterparty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oncafari
• YouTubeyoutube.com/oncafari
• Facebookfacebook.com/oncafari
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oncafari
• Instagraminstagram.com/oncafari
• TikToktiktok.com/@oncafarioficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Onçafari