Graeme Green, a renowned British photographer, has taken it upon himself to reclaim the narrative on endangered wildlife. The "New Big Five" is no longer reserved for trophy hunters in Africa but instead represents five animals that are critically at risk and require our attention.
In 2021, a global poll was conducted where people from all over the world voted for their top five choices of animals they would most like to photograph or see photographed. After tallying up the votes, Green's team crowned elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger as the winners of "The New Big Five" photography book.
This visually stunning collection features breathtaking images from some of the world's most celebrated wildlife photographers, including Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen. The book is not just a showcase of incredible photography but also serves as a global call to action on various issues affecting endangered species, such as habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
Green's mission with the project is multifaceted; it aims to not only inspire people to protect wildlife but also to encourage them to think critically about their relationship with nature. The "New Big Five" serves as ambassadors for what's happening in the natural world, bringing attention to the alarming rate at which species are facing extinction.
The statistics are sobering: according to the UN, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate, and over a million of the planet's animal and plant species face extinction. In this context, Green's project takes on immense importance. The book not only highlights the issues but also offers potential solutions such as rewilding and emphasizing the significance of indigenous communities in conservation.
One chapter explores the impact of climate change on endangered species outside of the "New Big Five," highlighting the alarming threat it poses to countless other animals, including bees and blue whales. Green underscores that there are thousands of pictures he could have included because this is how serious the situation is.
As with any issue affecting wildlife, hope comes from the hearts of those committed to its preservation. Jane Goodall, a prominent conservationist who penned the afterword for the book, notes that we have "a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm inflicted on the natural world." Her call to action echoes across her statement: we must come together and act now if we hope to protect wildlife.
"The New Big Five" photography book is available from April 4, 2023.
In 2021, a global poll was conducted where people from all over the world voted for their top five choices of animals they would most like to photograph or see photographed. After tallying up the votes, Green's team crowned elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger as the winners of "The New Big Five" photography book.
This visually stunning collection features breathtaking images from some of the world's most celebrated wildlife photographers, including Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen. The book is not just a showcase of incredible photography but also serves as a global call to action on various issues affecting endangered species, such as habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
Green's mission with the project is multifaceted; it aims to not only inspire people to protect wildlife but also to encourage them to think critically about their relationship with nature. The "New Big Five" serves as ambassadors for what's happening in the natural world, bringing attention to the alarming rate at which species are facing extinction.
The statistics are sobering: according to the UN, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate, and over a million of the planet's animal and plant species face extinction. In this context, Green's project takes on immense importance. The book not only highlights the issues but also offers potential solutions such as rewilding and emphasizing the significance of indigenous communities in conservation.
One chapter explores the impact of climate change on endangered species outside of the "New Big Five," highlighting the alarming threat it poses to countless other animals, including bees and blue whales. Green underscores that there are thousands of pictures he could have included because this is how serious the situation is.
As with any issue affecting wildlife, hope comes from the hearts of those committed to its preservation. Jane Goodall, a prominent conservationist who penned the afterword for the book, notes that we have "a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm inflicted on the natural world." Her call to action echoes across her statement: we must come together and act now if we hope to protect wildlife.
"The New Big Five" photography book is available from April 4, 2023.
just seen this & i'm like seriously how couldnt we have thought of this? rebranding the whole trophy hunting thing into a call to action for conservation 
it makes so much sense now that its not all about the money but about saving the planet. gotta give props to graeme green for taking the initiative 
! It's crazy to think that we're at a point where we need a "New Big Five" to raise awareness about endangered species. I mean, have you seen those images? Breathtaking is an understatement 
. But seriously, it's heartbreaking to know that over a million species are on the brink of extinction 
.
. We need to start thinking about our impact on the planet and take responsibility for it. Rewilding and supporting indigenous communities are some potential solutions that I think we should be exploring 
.
. And I love how Graeme Green is using his platform to shine a light on the issue. We need more voices like him! 
Let's hope this book inspires people to take action and protect our planet for future generations 
AND I LOVE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT ALSO ABOUT HOW WE RELATE TO NATURE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP. JANE GOODALL IS RIGHT ON POINT WITH HER CALL TO ACTION - WE REALLY NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND ACT NOW IF WE WANT TO SAVE THESE ANIMALS! 
... i mean who knew taking pics of animals could be so important? 
... and climate change is like, totally destroying everything 
... and featuring so many awesome photographers too 
...
... but we gotta act now, no more waiting around for someone else to do it 
... every little bit counts, right? 
. And I love that Green is highlighting indigenous communities' role in conservation – it's about time we give them the recognition they deserve 
The statistics are indeed eye-opening - I had no idea nature was declining at such an alarming rate! It's like, we need to wake up and take action NOW before it's too late. 
And I love how the book isn't just about the big five animals, but also includes pics of other endangered species like bees and blue whales. 
It's all connected, you know? We have to think globally and take care of our planet for future generations. 
. The "New Big Five" initiative is a great way to shift the focus away from trophy hunting and onto conservation efforts 
.
.
... These "New Big Five" animals are literally on life support. Like, what's next? The 'New Extinction Five'? 
. Can't wait for April 4th and the chance to gaze at all those majestic creatures (from the comfort of my air-conditioned home, of course) 
anyway i think its awesome that graeme green took it upon himself to bring attention to endangered wildlife. like we all know climate change is a huge issue and its only getting worse 
but at least there are people out there who care enough to do something about it.
. The statistics are crazy, with over a million species facing extinction... that's like, a whole planet's worth of animals! 
. And we need to start taking care of our planet NOW! 
. The idea of a "New Big Five" is genius 
. We're living in a world where nature is declining at an unprecedented rate and it's up to us to make a change 
, but if we work together, we can start to heal the harm inflicted on the natural world 
The fact that people from all over the world voted for their top 5 choices is wild - I mean, who knew so many people loved taking pics of tigers or polar bears 
.
I hope more people will get behind Green's mission and join the conversation. We need all hands on deck if we're gonna make a difference! 
it's a call to action we gotta take seriously, especially with climate change affecting so many species outside of "The New Big Five"