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A term originally used by trophy hunters in Africa, the “Big Five” describes the animals that are most challenging to shoot and kill: lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo. Nowadays, it is more used to refer to some of Africa’s largest and most iconic animals.
However, British photographer Graeme Green has reclaimed the narrative, creating a global “New Big Five” for wildlife photography. In 2021, 50,000 people around the world voted for the five animals they would most like to photograph or see photographed in the wild. Five animals were crowned winners: elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla and tiger.
This week, sees the publication of “The New Big 5“Photography book, featuring images of those animals and other at-risk wildlife from photography legends Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry and Paul Nicklenand essays by famous conservationists and activists such as jane goodall And Paula Kahumbu,
Green says the book celebrates wildlife and is a global call to action on issues affecting wildlife, including habitat loss, poaching, pollution and climate change.
Green was on assignment in Botswana at least a decade ago when he came up with the idea for a project to encourage people to “shoot with a camera, not with a gun.”
“I thought it would be a way to really get people to focus on wildlife, to think about the wildlife that they love, to think about the animals that are at risk.”
In total, the book includes the work of 144 globally renowned wildlife photographers from Ecuador to India. Curating the images took about two years, Green says.
“I think these are some of the most beautiful and creative images I’ve seen together in a book,” says Green. “These are species we are in danger of losing.”
According to And, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate, with approximately one million of the planet’s animal and plant species facing extinction. The “New Big 5,” all of whom are endangered, act as ambassadors for what’s happening in the natural world, Green says.
As well as being a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose, the book also points people towards possible solutions. Featured essays explore the benefits of reforestation and the importance of indigenous communities in conservation.
A chapter on endangered species, from bees to blue whales, shows the dire threat climate change poses to animals outside the “New Big 5.” “This is just the tip of the iceberg – I could have included thousands of photos because the situation is so serious,” says Green.
Leading conservationist Jane Goodall, who also wrote the book’s ending, said in a press release that “We have a window of time during which we can begin to repair some of the damage done to the natural world, but only then can we make a Come together and take action now.
“I hope the photographs will transport people into the wonderful world of these iconic species. Then, perhaps, others will join in helping to create a world where wildlife can thrive for future generations to enjoy,” she said.
“The New Big 5: A Global Photography Project for Endangered Wildlife” by Graeme Green, published by Earth Aware Editions, is on sale from April 4, 2023.