Jaw-Dropping Shots: Unveiling the Hidden World of Elusive Leopards
Captivating images in the book 'Remembering Leopards' serve as a powerful catalyst in safeguarding this enigmatic big cat by raising vital awareness of the pressing challenges it encounters
The Call to Earth, a CNN editorial series, aims to address the environmental challenges and their solutions. In collaboration with Rolexs Perpetual Planet initiative, CNN aims to raise awareness, educate, and inspire positive action on crucial sustainability issues.
With the decline in leopard populations globally, capturing photographs of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat has become extremely challenging. Furthermore, envisioning a secure future for one of nature's most captivating animals is becoming increasingly challenging.
British photographer Margot Raggett is combatting this trend through her Remembering Wildlife project. Initiated in 2016, this endeavor annually creates a photo book solely focused on a particular animal, showcasing its magnificence through captivating images captured worldwide. Remembering Wildlife reports that over £1 million ($1.2 million) has been raised for conservation efforts of the featured animal since the project's inception. The spotlight of this year's edition is the graceful leopard.
The photograph titled "Fight to the death" captures the profound anguish experienced by an elephant whose hip was shattered in a tragic train collision, ultimately leading to its euthanasia. This poignant moment was immortalized by Jasper Doest in Lopé National Park, Gabon.
Jasper Doest/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Images of wonder and woe in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
The book features contributions from more than 50 wildlife photographers, among them Jonathan and Angela Scott, renowned for their work on the TV show Big Cat Tales, as well as award-winning conservation photographers Neil Aldridge and Suzi Eszterhas. Raggett emphasizes the importance of presenting stunning big cat images to increase awareness and engage the public.
"We need people to see what we might lose if conservation efforts arent successful," she says. "Photography is a great way to do that."
Leopards are notoriously hard to photograph due to their shy nature and often hard-to-reach habitats. This snow leopard was photographed in the mountains of Ladakh, India.
Sascha Fonseca
Leopard populations are declining worldwide, with the exception of the Amur leopard. This particular leopard species, found in northern China and eastern Russia, has benefited from conservation efforts and has seen its habitat triple since the beginning of the century. However, it still holds the title of the world's rarest big cat, as stated by WWF. Among the nine leopard subspecies, two are classified as endangered and two as critically endangered. Shockingly, certain subspecies have experienced a population decline of up to 90% in recent years.
Finding solutions
: Ecologist Dr Vidya Athreya, from the non-profit Wildlife Conservation Society, authored a section of a book entitled "Lessons from a leopard." In a conversation with CNN, she divulges her twenty-year commitment to leopard conservation. "The more knowledge I gain about these creatures, the more captivated I become," she states. "This book serves as a tribute to the incredible nature of leopards, and it has been an uplifting experience to contribute to a project that highlights their majestic presence.""[Conservation] is about reviving populations," Athreya adds. "It is about ensuring people and leopards do not get embroiled in conflict."
Leopards are interacting more with human structures and living space, causing conflict. Pictured, a leopard climbing through a fence in Hoedspruit, South Africa.
Owen Grobbler
According to Raggett, the combination of climate change and growing human populations is pushing leopards into increasingly limited habitats. This is causing them to encounter humans more frequently, making them more vulnerable to snare traps and deliberate poaching. Raggett also notes that incidents of leopards attacking livestock in Afghanistan are escalating conflicts, leading farmers to kill these animals to safeguard their livelihoods.
Raggett explains that Remembering Wildlife's conservation initiatives have supported Afghan farmers by supplying predator-proof corrals for their livestock and providing education on additional protective measures.
Raggett explains that the purpose is to persuade the local community against retaliating towards animals and instead, promote coexistence. One of the contributing photographers, Jonathan Scott, highlights the significant harm leopards have faced due to the high demand for their pelts. He mentions that the leopard's stunning beauty has come at a great cost, with an estimated 50,000 leopards being killed annually in Africa during the 1960s and 70s to meet the fashion industry's relentless desire for spotted cat skin garments.
Remembering Wildlife addresses the issue of hunting by providing financial support to rangers, assisting them in confronting poachers. Supporting their endeavors, Raggett explains, can be as straightforward as covering expenses for fuel, acquiring new tires, or ensuring regular salaries.
Rangers are responsible for confronting and thwarting poachers who target leopards primarily for their fur. The confiscated pelt shown here was obtained in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, located in the Republic of Congo.
However, Raggett acknowledges that there is still work to be done, despite her dedicated efforts.
"Remembering Wildlife is comparable to one hose battling a forest fire," she asserts. "We proudly stand alongside numerous remarkable organizations, wielding that hose."
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