Under a seemingly endless Kenyan sky – clouds swollen grey with the promise of rain – a herd of elephants march across a barren plain in search of food. With great size comes great nutritional needs, and elephants sometimes travel vast distances in search of fresh drinking water and food. Resilient and resourceful as they are, these giants may still suffer and possibly perish during prolonged dry spells. As climatic conditions continue to shift and droughts become more regular and severe, elephants (along with a host of other species) face an uncertain future.
#elephants #wildlife #nature
Under a seemingly endless Kenyan sky – clouds swollen grey with the promise of rain – a herd of elephants march across a barren plain in search of food. With great size comes great nutritional needs, and elephants sometimes travel vast distances in search of fresh drinking water and food. Resilient and resourceful as they are, these giants may still suffer and possibly perish during prolonged dry spells. As climatic conditions continue to shift and droughts become more regular and severe, elephants (along with a host of other species) face an uncertain future.
#elephants #wildlife #nature
A pair of cheetah cubs eagerly await the return of their mom, the downy fur on their backs glowing amber in the afternoon sun. At this age, the tiny youngsters are very vulnerable, especially in moments like these when their only source of protection must temporarily abandon them in search of food. But rival predators and wily scavengers are the least of the worries for these big cats. Cheetahs inhabit a fraction of their former range, with only around 7,000 individuals still left in the wild. We are running out of time if we hope to reverse this heartbreaking decline.
So, this #InternationalCheetahDay, let’s join together to raise awareness about the urgent challenges facing these special cats. Their future depends on all of us.
To find out what our organisation, the @GreatPlainsFoundation, is doing to safeguard the future of Africa’s big cats, visit www.greatplainsfoundation.com/big-cats-initiative
A pair of cheetah cubs eagerly await the return of their mom, the downy fur on their backs glowing amber in the afternoon sun. At this age, the tiny youngsters are very vulnerable, especially in moments like these when their only source of protection must temporarily abandon them in search of food. But rival predators and wily scavengers are the least of the worries for these big cats. Cheetahs inhabit a fraction of their former range, with only around 7,000 individuals still left in the wild. We are running out of time if we hope to reverse this heartbreaking decline.
So, this #InternationalCheetahDay, let’s join together to raise awareness about the urgent challenges facing these special cats. Their future depends on all of us.
To find out what our organisation, the @GreatPlainsFoundation, is doing to safeguard the future of Africa’s big cats, visit www.greatplainsfoundation.com/big-cats-initiative
A pair of cheetah cubs eagerly await the return of their mom, the downy fur on their backs glowing amber in the afternoon sun. At this age, the tiny youngsters are very vulnerable, especially in moments like these when their only source of protection must temporarily abandon them in search of food. But rival predators and wily scavengers are the least of the worries for these big cats. Cheetahs inhabit a fraction of their former range, with only around 7,000 individuals still left in the wild. We are running out of time if we hope to reverse this heartbreaking decline.
So, this #InternationalCheetahDay, let’s join together to raise awareness about the urgent challenges facing these special cats. Their future depends on all of us.
To find out what our organisation, the @GreatPlainsFoundation, is doing to safeguard the future of Africa’s big cats, visit www.greatplainsfoundation.com/big-cats-initiative
It’s truly an honour for @DereckJoubert and I to receive the inaugural Naphtali S. Tande Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival held earlier this year in Kenya. The festival supports and celebrates emerging and established filmmakers in wildlife, conservation and environmental filmmaking. It also helps to build awareness and spread wonder about the natural world. For threatened wild species to stand a chance at survival, their stories must be told. It’s always been our goal to not only document nature’s incredible narratives, but to share those stories with the world. Thank you to @pwffest for this honour and we hope our work can inspire a new wave of conservation and advocacy. #pwff2024 #NkaangAwards #lifetimeachievementaward #africanstorytellers
For the enormous herds of wildebeest migrating yearly across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, river crossings are the most perilous part of the journey. Deep, churning waters filled with crocodiles present only part of the challenge. The wildebeest must also navigate steep banks while contending with thousands of herd members. The safety that come with traveling in huge herds is sometimes offset by the difficulties of squeezing up a narrow pathway carved into a crumbling riverbank with thousands of other wildebeest all treading the same course. The Mara River, flowing through northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, is one of the final obstacles the wildebeest must face before they reach the Mara plains. #wildebeest #migration #wildlife
When lion cubs are not asleep or feeding, they’re playing. We never tire of watching and documenting the exuberant antics of these young cats as they gradually learn the intricacies of stalking and pouncing on their journey to becoming successful predators. Some cubs are bolder than others and quickly assert themselves as the most dominant amongst their siblings – it’s the sort of fighting spirit that could either be an asset in the face of threats or something that will land these brazen youngsters in trouble when they start battles they can’t win.
#lions #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography
These rhinos appeared like battle-scarred warriors, stoic and determined, from a wall of dust that enveloped the horizon. When water is available rhinos may drink more than once a day – a habitual routine that could make it easier for poachers to track their movements. These behemoths are still under significant threat as demand for their horns persists. Dedicated conservationists are tackling the problem from all angles, implementing innovative prevention tactics like injecting horns with radioactive isotopes, and rewilding captive rhinos in key areas where they can help diversify gene pools. It is our refusal to accept an untimely fate for this iconic species that ensures they still have a future. And their protection, in turn, helps safeguard critical habitats for a diversity of other animals. #rhino #wildlife #conservation
More than just mounds of dirt, termite hills are an integral part of the Mara landscape. Rising from the open plains like rugged spires, these structures are ever-evolving cities for the termites – skyscrapers complete with temperature controlled chambers for food and eggs. For other species, the mounds are useful vantage points from which to see threats or suss out potential meals. Plants benefit from the nutrients and water that is usually available in thriving termite communities, and these peaked hills are covered in lush greenery at certain times of the year. For this lion family, a termite mound provided the perfect playground, a jungle gym on which to challenge their agility and reflexes. #lion #bigcats #wildlife #termites
More than just mounds of dirt, termite hills are an integral part of the Mara landscape. Rising from the open plains like rugged spires, these structures are ever-evolving cities for the termites – skyscrapers complete with temperature controlled chambers for food and eggs. For other species, the mounds are useful vantage points from which to see threats or suss out potential meals. Plants benefit from the nutrients and water that is usually available in thriving termite communities, and these peaked hills are covered in lush greenery at certain times of the year. For this lion family, a termite mound provided the perfect playground, a jungle gym on which to challenge their agility and reflexes. #lion #bigcats #wildlife #termites
More than just mounds of dirt, termite hills are an integral part of the Mara landscape. Rising from the open plains like rugged spires, these structures are ever-evolving cities for the termites – skyscrapers complete with temperature controlled chambers for food and eggs. For other species, the mounds are useful vantage points from which to see threats or suss out potential meals. Plants benefit from the nutrients and water that is usually available in thriving termite communities, and these peaked hills are covered in lush greenery at certain times of the year. For this lion family, a termite mound provided the perfect playground, a jungle gym on which to challenge their agility and reflexes. #lion #bigcats #wildlife #termites
#Repost from @natgeo Photo by @beverlyjoubert | The vast, dramatic landscapes of Kenya make a suitably striking backdrop for capturing the essence of the country’s elephants. It is impossible to spend time in the company of these animals without being awed by their sheer size, grace, and intelligence. The more we learn about elephants, the more we grow to appreciate how socially complex and intelligent they truly are. New research conducted in Kenya’s wildlife reserves has shed even more light on their intricate social dynamics. It suggests that parts of elephant rumbles may function like individual names to address others of their kind, an ability that is exceptionally rare in nature. It’s yet another milestone in unraveling the full extent of elephant intelligence.
Elegance in motion. At this time of year, the grasslands of Kenya’s Mara region often resonate with the thunderous pounding of hooves as millions of wildebeest spill onto the savannah on route to better grazing grounds. They are joined by as many as 300,000 zebras that merge with the black mass of wildebeest, adding splashes of dazzling contrast. Zebra numbers may pale in comparison to the wildebeest, but what they lack in numbers they more than make up for in grace and poise – adjectives that are scarcely used to describe their awkward-looking counterparts. #zebra #wildlife #migration
A wispy, unkempt mane, and legs that still show faint outlines of the spotty pattern characteristic of cubs will soon change as this young lion surges into adulthood. Life can be tough for males, especially those on the cusp of leaving the pride and fending for themselves. It’s a challenge that requires grit and determination, something that this young cat appears to have in good measure. #lion #wildlife #photography
Two heads are better than one …
This pair of zebras almost appear to merge into a single animal as they jostle for a spot at a drinking hole. It’s easy to see how their dazzling coats could create confusion amongst predators that are unable to pick out an individual animal. But many scientists now believe that the zebra’s stripes may have more to do with deterring biting flies than with bewildering any would-be attackers. Insects like tsetse flies and horseflies can be more than an annoyance for African mammals. These biting insects can carry dangerous diseases like sleeping sickness and equine influenza, and a zebra’s thin hair does not provide much of a barrier to getting bitten. Research indicates that flies are less likely to land on striped surfaces, suggesting that the zebra’s unique coat could be an effective deterrent.
#wildlife #nature #zebras
At certain times of the year, Kenya’s saline and alkaline lakes are blanketed in a layer of pink as masses of flamingoes flock to the mud flats to feast in the nutrient-rich shallows. For most animals, these lakes are harsh inhospitable places, but for these brightly hued birds it’s the perfect environment where there is little competition for food, loads of space, and safety in numbers. Flamingos are uniquely adapted to thrive in hostile wetlands. They use their distinctive downward-bent bills to suck up water and mud which they then filter using specialised structures in their beaks. Their bold colouration actually comes from the shrimp-like crustaceans that make up the bulk of their diets. Sadly, their dependence on salt flats can put them at risk as increasing human activity threatens their watery habitats. #wildlife #flamingo #birds
At certain times of the year, Kenya’s saline and alkaline lakes are blanketed in a layer of pink as masses of flamingoes flock to the mud flats to feast in the nutrient-rich shallows. For most animals, these lakes are harsh inhospitable places, but for these brightly hued birds it’s the perfect environment where there is little competition for food, loads of space, and safety in numbers. Flamingos are uniquely adapted to thrive in hostile wetlands. They use their distinctive downward-bent bills to suck up water and mud which they then filter using specialised structures in their beaks. Their bold colouration actually comes from the shrimp-like crustaceans that make up the bulk of their diets. Sadly, their dependence on salt flats can put them at risk as increasing human activity threatens their watery habitats. #wildlife #flamingo #birds
At certain times of the year, Kenya’s saline and alkaline lakes are blanketed in a layer of pink as masses of flamingoes flock to the mud flats to feast in the nutrient-rich shallows. For most animals, these lakes are harsh inhospitable places, but for these brightly hued birds it’s the perfect environment where there is little competition for food, loads of space, and safety in numbers. Flamingos are uniquely adapted to thrive in hostile wetlands. They use their distinctive downward-bent bills to suck up water and mud which they then filter using specialised structures in their beaks. Their bold colouration actually comes from the shrimp-like crustaceans that make up the bulk of their diets. Sadly, their dependence on salt flats can put them at risk as increasing human activity threatens their watery habitats. #wildlife #flamingo #birds
We all have our own ideas about the treasure we’d like to find at the end of the rainbow, but for elephants, the ultimate prize may just be a safe and protected wildlife corridor. In Kenya and across other African countries that elephants call home, conservation efforts have been working to reverse population declines, but long-term success depends on more than just protecting existing wild spaces. It also lies in reconnecting fragmented landscapes with wildlife corridors, allowing herds to move more naturally between secure habitats and avoid conflict with humans. In a world increasingly affected by climate change, more options for moving around can also improve chances of survival in the face of drought and extreme weather. #Repost from @natgeo | Photo by @beverlyjoubert
Seven months ago, @DereckJoubert and I began sketching out a plan for a small safari camp in the heart of Kenya’s Mara ecosystem. After a mammoth effort from a passionate and dedicated team, Mara Toto Tree Camp opened early this month. As with all @GreatPlainsConservation camps that we’ve designed, careful consideration is given to the artwork that surrounds those who visit. It’s important to us that the imagery invokes the wonder of the natural world and the wild spaces that surround the camp, while also serving as a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not protect our planet. Here I am with the team from Mara Toto Tree Camp getting ready to put the final touches on the treetop suites. These prints were carefully selected from my portfolio to encompass the spirit of the new camp and I couldn’t be prouder to see them on display. #wildlife #nature #MaraToto #wildlifephotography
Seven months ago, @DereckJoubert and I began sketching out a plan for a small safari camp in the heart of Kenya’s Mara ecosystem. After a mammoth effort from a passionate and dedicated team, Mara Toto Tree Camp opened early this month. As with all @GreatPlainsConservation camps that we’ve designed, careful consideration is given to the artwork that surrounds those who visit. It’s important to us that the imagery invokes the wonder of the natural world and the wild spaces that surround the camp, while also serving as a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not protect our planet. Here I am with the team from Mara Toto Tree Camp getting ready to put the final touches on the treetop suites. These prints were carefully selected from my portfolio to encompass the spirit of the new camp and I couldn’t be prouder to see them on display. #wildlife #nature #MaraToto #wildlifephotography
This #WorldRangerDay, we honour the brave men and women on the frontlines of conservation, risking their lives to protect our planet and its countless species. This photo, captured during a rhino relocation for our Rhinos Without Borders initiative, highlights the dedication and teamwork required for such a mission. Spearheaded by the @GreatPlainsFoundation, this project aims to move threatened rhinos to safer grazing grounds, a project that would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of dedicated rangers on the ground. Thank you for your service. #rangerday #rangers #conservation #wildlife
His bushy mane might look a little disheveled, but it only makes him more appealing to lionesses and more threatening to rival males. Lion dynamics are complex and we haven’t yet unravelled the mysteries of how these cats navigate their intricate social landscapes. Recent research from the Serengeti examines how connections between pride members shift and change as lions get older. Females tend to be more closely connected to other lionesses in early adulthood, but this declines over time, while male connections are usually lowest in midlife, but increase as they age. Studies that track lion life over a long period of time can be vital to help us understand the threats that these cats face at various stages of their lives, informing conservation decisions that could give them a better chance at survival. But it’s only possible to carry out long-term studies if lions live naturally, without the threat of conflict with humans. If we hope to save these cats from an untimely demise, we must give them the space they need to thrive. #wildlife #lions
