Photography News | Issue 61 | photographynews.co.uk
23 Interview
delighted with this support from abroad. Was that a surprise to you – how overseas photographers have embraced your project? MR: Indeed – we had 35 photographers attend this year and they came in from all over the world. I never expect or take for granted such support and all I can say is that it is completely overwhelming to me. I cannot stress how grateful I am to everyone who has supported me in so many ways. It truly is a team effort. PN: Elephants, rhinos, apes – can you expand on how you’ve prioritised the species so far? MR: It has been an organic process for me. It started with elephants because of that young poached bull, as I explained. Then just after that book was finished I was lucky enough to get the chance to meet ’Sudan’, the last male northern white rhino left on the planet (he subsequently died earlier this year) – that had another profound impact on me, so I chose to do rhinos next. And then in year three it was having the plight of orangutans as a result of palm oil highlighted in a play I attended, that mademymind up to do apes next. There are so many species in dire need of our attention and support that it is difficult to prioritise one over another – I just simply have to usemy instincts each time as to what is pullingmy heartstrings the most at that particular moment. PN: You had some inspirational speakers at this year’s Apes book launch. How did you decide on the lineup? MR: Again, it is an organic process. Once I know what species I am concentrating
on then researching the campaigners and photographers who are known for those animals makes sense, along with recommendations frompeople.OfirDrori, Tim Laman and Cheryl Knott were all suggestions made tome by friends and supporters, and I’m so thrilled they all agreed to take part. PN: Can you tell us a few ways in which the money raised has been used to benefit endangered species? MR: So far we’ve distributed the £350,000 from the first two books (it is a bit too early for apes yet, we’re still reconciling post launch). We’ve supported 15 projects in 13 countries and paid for everything from veterinary care for the victims of poaching to anti-poaching patrols, including aerial patrols and sniffer dogs. We’ve supported researchers and paid for camera traps to keep an eye on relocated rhinos. We’ve contributed towards relocations and we’ve also helped fund the building of schools in local communities surrounding game reserves. As I’ve learned, conservation needs to be holistic and there are so many approaches that need support. PN: What are your most notable successes? MR: As the work of the conservation teams on the ground is often an ongoing and unending war, it ishardsometimes topindownsuccesses we can claim. But I am particularly proud that the anti-poaching patrols we helped to fund during the Mana Pools wet season last year reduced the poaching incidents to zero compared to at least 10 elephant deaths the year before. I always think back to that first poor poached elephant and think if we can stop another animal from suffering that same fate then that makes it all worth it. PN: When do you start planning for next year’s campaign? MR: Each year my answer to that question at this stage is the same. I just need to get to the end of this project and collapse and take a few weeks to recover before I can even think about committing another year of my life to another book. It is such a huge commitment from me and once I declare there will be a new book I am inundated with people wanting to get involved, so I’m very careful not to reveal any decisions until I make them. And that includes what species will be next, if there is another book. PN: Of which aspect of Remembering Wildlife are you most proud? MR: Something that I never anticipated and which has been a complete joy to me is the way the series has created a movement and a community of likeminded people, all striving
for the same thing. From photographers to volunteers, sponsors such as PhotoGuard to suppliers, everyone seems to be so proud and enthused to support the project, and I love that together we are greater than the sum of the parts. The fact that we’ve also sold 10,000 books which spread our message and raised £450,000 so far is also far more than I ever dreamed we would achieve when I started out. PN: How can Photography News readers get involved with Remembering Wildlife ? MR: Watch this space! If there is another book we’ll be running a Kickstarter campaign again, which we’d hope people would want to support, and there will also likely be another public competition for 10 places in the book. People can subscribe to our mailing list via our website and that way they’ll be the first to hear when we do make any announcements. PN: What is your ultimate goal for your charity? MR: Our mission is to raise awareness of the plight facing a species and then raise funds to protect it. If I have the energy, we can continue to build on thatmission and reachmore people and raise more funds than ever – then I will be very happy indeed.
We’ve supported researchers and paid for camera traps to keep an eye on relocated rhinos
Contact
For more details about Remembering Wildlife please see the website. The three books – Remembering Elephants , Rhinos and Great Apes – are available to buy and you can also sign up for news of forthcoming projects and events. rememberingwildlife.com
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