Photographers highlight the rewards of shooting wildlife with a camera rather than a gun as the public are asked to vote for their favourite animals to snap
- Public asked to vote for animals they think should be part of a new 'Big Five' - the best creatures to snap
- The initiative has been launched by photographer and travel writer Graeme Green
- It is supported by other wildlife photographers, who have revealed some of their favourite animal shots
The
public are being asked to vote for animals they think should be part of
a new 'Big Five' of the natural world's top creatures to photograph.
Unlike
the old Big Five, based on the five toughest animals in Africa for
colonial hunters to shoot and kill, the new list will be animals to see
in the wild and shoot with a camera.
The
initiative has been launched by photographer and journalist Graeme
Green. It is backed by several other renowned wildlife photographers who
have revealed some of their favourite animal pictures for inspiration
and to show their support, a selection of which is presented here.
The rewards of shooting animals with cameras are clear to see.
It
is hoped the international project will also raise awareness of the
crisis facing wildlife, with more than a million species of animals and
plants at risk of extinction, and prompt more action to protect nature.
The original Big Five were
lions, leopards, rhino, elephant and buffalo in Africa, but the new
list can draw on wildlife from around the world – from polar bears in
the Arctic to orangutans and tigers in Asia.
Celebrities,
conservationists and photographers have contributed their new Big Five
choices, including musician Moby, who heads his list with the coyote,
and TV presenter Ben Fogle, who puts the hedgehog in first place.
NEW BIG 5 SHORTLIST
The New Big 5 initiative
has drawn up a shortlist of animals that people can vote for to be
included in the new list. Voters can pick up to five of their favourite
creatures, which include the old Big Five. They are:
Elephant,
lion, wolf, tiger, koala, leopard, lemur, fox, cheetah, grizzly bear,
wild dog, snow leopard, wildebeest, kangaroo, warthog, hyena, zebra,
polar bear, orangutan, gorilla, giraffe, rhino, chimpanzee, panda,
monkey, sloth, hippo, pangolin, meerkat, jaguar, tapir, slow loris,
Komodo dragon and deer.
Actress
Joanna Lumley has topped her list with the orangutan, and the red fox
is at the top of TV presenter Chris Packham's new Big Five selection.
Mr Green said he feels a Big Five of wildlife photography is much more relevant to the world than hunting.
'This
isn't an anti-trophy hunting campaign, though I can't personally
understand why someone would want to shoot and kill lions, elephants,
antelope or any other animals,' he added.
He
went on: 'As a wildlife photographer and a journalist, I've been all
over the world in the past 20 years, and to see the impact humans are
having on the natural world and all these remarkable animals, from
lions, elephants, giraffes and cheetahs to lesser known animals, like
pangolins, or rare frogs, is disturbing.
'People
care so much about wildlife, but still it's disappearing rapidly. A
million species face possible extinction. I wanted to do something to
help.
'I hope the project can get a bit of attention on the world's wildlife so that it's saved and protected before it's too late.'
Chimpanzee
expert Dr Jane Goodall said: 'What a great project the new Big Five is.
I wonder what the final choices will be? There are so many incredible
animals in our world.
'Any project that brings attention to animals, so many of whom are threatened or endangered, is truly important.'
- To find out more about wildlife issues, for podcasts and interviews and to vote for the new Big Five, people can visit www.newbig5.com or visit its Instagram page @newbig5project.
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