The "Big Five" - a term once reserved for trophy hunters in Africa, now rebranded as the "New Big Five" to emphasize wildlife conservation.
In a bid to promote awareness and action on key sustainability issues, Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to launch a photography project that highlights five of the world's most endangered species. The result is a stunning collection of images showcasing the beauty and fragility of these iconic animals: elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger.
The concept was born from British photographer Graeme Green's desire to challenge the traditional "Big Five" narrative and inspire people to focus on wildlife conservation rather than hunting. In 2021, 50,000 people worldwide voted for their top five choices, with these five animals emerging victorious.
The resulting book, "The New Big 5: A Global Photography Project For Endangered Wildlife," features photographs from renowned wildlife photographers like Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen, as well as essays from conservationists and activists such as Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu. The publication not only highlights the beauty of these animals but also sheds light on the pressing issues that threaten their survival, including habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
The book serves as a powerful call to action, urging readers to take responsibility for protecting the natural world. According to the UN, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate, with around one million species facing extinction. The "New Big 5" are all threatened, and their images serve as ambassadors for the alarming state of our planet's biodiversity.
The book also explores potential solutions, such as rewilding and the importance of indigenous communities in conservation. A chapter on endangered species from bees to blue whales illustrates the far-reaching impact of climate change on animal populations outside the "New Big Five."
As Graeme Green notes, "These are some of the most beautiful and creative images I've seen put together in one book... These are the species that we are at risk of losing." The photographs serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake if we fail to act.
By highlighting the beauty and majesty of these iconic animals, the "New Big Five" photography project aims to inspire people to take action on behalf of wildlife conservation. As Jane Goodall so eloquently puts it, "we have a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm we have inflicted on the natural world... but only if we get together and take action now."
In a bid to promote awareness and action on key sustainability issues, Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to launch a photography project that highlights five of the world's most endangered species. The result is a stunning collection of images showcasing the beauty and fragility of these iconic animals: elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger.
The concept was born from British photographer Graeme Green's desire to challenge the traditional "Big Five" narrative and inspire people to focus on wildlife conservation rather than hunting. In 2021, 50,000 people worldwide voted for their top five choices, with these five animals emerging victorious.
The resulting book, "The New Big 5: A Global Photography Project For Endangered Wildlife," features photographs from renowned wildlife photographers like Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen, as well as essays from conservationists and activists such as Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu. The publication not only highlights the beauty of these animals but also sheds light on the pressing issues that threaten their survival, including habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
The book serves as a powerful call to action, urging readers to take responsibility for protecting the natural world. According to the UN, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate, with around one million species facing extinction. The "New Big 5" are all threatened, and their images serve as ambassadors for the alarming state of our planet's biodiversity.
The book also explores potential solutions, such as rewilding and the importance of indigenous communities in conservation. A chapter on endangered species from bees to blue whales illustrates the far-reaching impact of climate change on animal populations outside the "New Big Five."
As Graeme Green notes, "These are some of the most beautiful and creative images I've seen put together in one book... These are the species that we are at risk of losing." The photographs serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake if we fail to act.
By highlighting the beauty and majesty of these iconic animals, the "New Big Five" photography project aims to inspire people to take action on behalf of wildlife conservation. As Jane Goodall so eloquently puts it, "we have a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm we have inflicted on the natural world... but only if we get together and take action now."
. I mean, what's next? Partnering with CNN to launch a project that promotes their brand while passing off someone else's work as their own? It's just a bunch of rich people trying to save face by throwing some cash at conservation efforts. Newsflash: it takes more than a fancy book and some good cameras to make a real difference. We need concrete action, not just a feel-good campaign.
i mean seriously, what's wrong with humans? we're basically killing off all these amazing animals left & right. like, elephants are already super endangered & we have pictures of them that look like they belong in a nature doco 
but no, it's not just about looking pretty pics... it's about taking action! and btw what's up with the UN saying 1 million species are on the brink? isn't that like, way more than the number of people who think they can outsmart climate change 
anyway, the fact remains we need to get our act together or else these incredible animals will be gone forever 
! It's so important that we focus on conservation instead of hunting. I mean, what's the point of taking a selfie with a lion's mane if it's just gonna get taken away from the wild? 
The UN stats are mind-blowing tho... 1 million species facing extinction? That's insane! 
We need to step up our game and take responsibility for protecting nature. I love that Graeme Green and Jane Goodall are using their platforms to raise awareness. Let's hope this book inspires a wave of action and not just more clicks 
. It's not just about highlighting these five species, it's about raising awareness about the bigger issue - wildlife conservation and the state of our planet 
. I love how Graeme Green turned a narrative that was once associated with hunting into something powerful for conservation efforts 
. And can we talk about those photographers who came together to create this stunning book? Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, Paul Nicklen... it's like a dream team! 
. We need more people like her who are passionate about making a change and inspiring others to join in 
. This project is a reminder that we have the power to make a difference, one image at a time 
I'm all for promoting awareness and action on wildlife conservation, but let's be real, 50k people voting on their top five choices in 2021 is a pretty low turnout. 
Still, it's awesome that they've got some amazing photographers on board to showcase these incredible animals. Ami Vitale's work with elephants is breathtaking 
. But have you seen the book's marketing strategy? They're using a luxury watch brand's initiative to get their message out... might be more about selling books than saving the planet 
.