Remembering Leopards – A Luxury Travel Blog

With an impala in its sights, the leopard slowly and stealthily stalks ahead. Her head is low and her legs are bent. She’s the grasp of camouflage and her mild golden-brown fur, with black spots and rosettes blends into the lengthy grass. She makes intelligent use of the duvet. Her plan is clearly to ambush her prey, and she or he crouches low, making an attempt to get as shut as potential to her goal with out being seen. Suddenly she makes a short and explosive cost. Pouncing on her prey, she dispatches it with a fast chunk to the neck, earlier than carrying it up right into a tree, away from potential scavengers, for the ultimate feast.

Leopards are probably the most versatile and adaptable of the large cats, however regardless of this adaptability, world populations and distribution are in decline. Loss of habitat and prey, in addition to intense persecution as livestock killers, is the chief menace to this magnificent large cat. They’ve lengthy been hunted in southern Asia for his or her pores and skin, enamel and bones, supplying the Chinese medicinal commerce, and in west and central Africa, they’re hunted for his or her whiskers, tails and claws.

Remembering Wildlife is the collective identify for a sequence of beautiful, hardback espresso desk books created by British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett, who gave up a profession as CEO of a London PR firm and went to Africa to pursue her love of wildlife pictures and who, in who in 2014 started asking fellow wildlife photographers if they’d contribute to a fundraising e-book for animal conservation. Their response was unanimous and the primary e-book within the sequence, Remembering Elephants, was printed in 2016, with pictures donated by among the world’s high wildlife photographers. Initially, Margot thought the e-book can be a one-off, however following the success of Remembering Elephants, she was impressed to push on. Next got here Remembering Rhinos, then Remembering Great Apes, adopted by Lions, Cheetah, African Wild Dogs, Bears, and on this 12 months’s version Leopards take centre stage.

There are eight species of leopard – African, Amur, Arabian, Indian, Indochinese, Javan, Sri Lankan and Persian and Remembering Leopards focuses on these magnificent large cats, animals which were listed as susceptible by the IUCN since 1986. Margot believes that showcasing stunning pictures of those large cats will elevate consciousness of their plight and seize the general public’s consideration. “We need people to see what we might lose if conservation efforts aren’t successful,” she says, “photography is a great way to do that.” She goes on, “Our mission is not only to celebrate leopards but to raise urgent awareness that they are in decline and to raise funds for those working to protect them.”

I sat down to talk with Margot about Remembering Wildlife, previous, current and future…

1. Your background is within the company world of PR. Remembering Wildlife was an actual change in trajectory, may you ever have anticipated being the place you are actually, and do you will have any regrets?

I definitely by no means imagined, after I got down to make that first e-book, that eight years on, we’d be the place we are actually. My ambition that 12 months was to lift £100,000 for conservation, which I believed was quite a bit to ask, so to now be near £1.1 million donated to conservation tasks is unimaginable. I’ve no regrets. I really feel I’ve discovered my trigger and my motive for being right here.

2. With the continued challenges in conservation, how do you see the position of initiatives like Remembering Wildlife in shaping the way forward for preserving endangered species?

I believe our position is to maintain making everybody as conscious as we are able to about the truth that so many species are endangered. I believe it’s too straightforward for folks to not notice what’s happening – we’ve simply printed Remembering Leopards, but many individuals assume that leopards will not be in hassle in any respect!  We’ve obtained the chance to shine a highlight on what’s happening on the market, and that’s what I need to proceed doing.

3. You as soon as stated “Remembering Wildlife is like one hose fighting a forest fire… We’re proudly standing alongside lots of amazing organizations with that hose.” Do you are feeling your ‘hose’ is de facto making a distinction?

It is difficult to quantify it, however I stand by my assertion. If we had been one much less hose, I believe it’d be a major hose that was eliminated. With over 37,000 books bought, we’ve definitely opened lots of people’s eyes to among the crises dealing with species on the market. The suggestions I get from organizations which can be so grateful for the help, is that we should, should, should preserve going. I positively assume there can be much less funding going out if we weren’t doing what we’re doing.

4. As an advocate for conservation, what are your ideas on the position of schooling in shaping a sustainable future for wildlife preservation?

I definitely assume schooling is essential, not only for younger folks, however for folks of all ages. By placing the Remembering Wildlife sequence on the market, we’re hoping to teach a wider public and the publicity we get across the books and interviews comparable to this one, additionally raises consciousness and educates.

In phrases of kids, we’ve supported a number of initiatives which were particularly focused at younger kids rising up in Africa.

5. The challenge of the unlawful wildlife commerce stays a major menace to endangered species. How does Remembering Wildlife purpose to deal with this essential challenge?

The totally different tasks we help, assault the issue of Illegal wildlife commerce in numerous methods – whether or not they’re doing anti-poaching work, schooling of children, schooling of adults, making an attempt to catch poachers, or making an attempt to convict them – we attempt to combat the unlawful wildlife commerce by supporting organizations which can be preventing on the frontline.

6. Looking forward, what milestones or achievements do you hope Remembering Wildlife will attain within the subsequent 5 years?

At the second, we’ve raised about USD$1.4 million. I’ve now obtained my sights on USD$2 million as the subsequent goal.  As lengthy as individuals are and need to preserve shopping for our books, we’ll definitely proceed to carry them out.

Over 50 wildlife photographers have contributed to Remembering Leopards, as their means of giving again to one of many species they make their livings from by photographing.  The e-book is a set of 80 beautiful color pictures, taken by among the world’s high wildlife photographers, together with Marsel van Oosten, Art Wolfe, Frans Lanting, Greg du Toit, Michael Poliza and Maasai Mara-based Jonathan and Angela Scott, in addition to award-winning conservation photographers Neil Aldridge and Suzi Eszterhas. This 12 months’s cowl picture was taken by Mark Dumbleton.

Of course not all of the photographers featured are as well-known. Remembering Wildlife ran a photographic competitors for newbie photographers eager to be included within the e-book. Around 3,500 pictures had been submitted, from which 20 pictures had been chosen and added to these chosen from extra identified photographers. UK buddy and photographer Jany Addey was one among these competitors winners and advised me, “For me, it is a privilege to be part of such an amazing project. Leopards are my favourite animal and I love to photograph their beauty but also their movement and behaviour. To have one of my photos in this fundraising book was a photographic highlight, which also helps to raise money for conservation”

Unlike most charity fashions, Remembering Wildlife doesn’t ask for donations (though they’ll definitely settle for them if provided!), they’re within the enterprise of promoting you one thing stunning and promising that 100% of the income will go to conservation.

The first donation from Remembering Leopards has already been made, to Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Afghanistan, which has been working to guard snow leopards since 2006. Because of the political scenario in Afghanistan, WCS had lately misplaced the majority of its core funding and Remembering Wildlife has been capable of give them an emergency grant to hold on, and to fund the continued employment of eco-guards, chosen from native communities in Wakhan National Park. The funds have additionally been used to counter human-wildlife battle, by offering predator-proof corrals to deal with livestock and by educating native communities on different protecting measures. “It’s about persuading the local community not to retaliate against animals … and enabling them to live alongside them,” explains Margot.

Leopards could be probably the most adaptable of the large cats, however their inhabitants numbers and distribution vary are nonetheless very a lot below menace. Help save a spot for them on this quickly altering world by buying a replica of Remembering Leopards.

Remembering Wildlife exists to lift consciousness of the plight dealing with wildlife and to lift funds to guard it. Since Remembering Elephants in 2016, greater than 230 of the world’s finest wildlife photographers have contributed to the Remembering Wildlife sequence. More than 37,000 books have been bought, and over £1.078 million has been distributed to 68 conservation tasks in 31 nations.  

Each e-book prices £49.50 GBP ($60 USD) and you will discover out extra concerning the tasks that Remembering Wildlife has already funded on their web site.

Sarah Kingdom

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, earlier than transferring to Africa on the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and information, journey author, yoga trainer, path runner, and mom of two. When she just isn’t climbing or touring she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides journeys frequently in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, and takes climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro quite a few instances a 12 months.