20 unforgettable wildlife images documenting our fragile world

'10 Years of Remembering Wildlife' raises money for conservation efforts. The post 20 unforgettable wildlife images documenting our fragile world appeared first on Popular Science.

Apr 26, 2025 - 18:01

20 unforgettable wildlife images documenting our fragile world

In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda, two young gorillas playfully taunt each other during a game of chase. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed mountain gorillas as endangered since 2018, but conservation efforts have brought hope for the species. The gorillas are the only great ape species whose population is growing.

The balance of cautious hope and realistic awareness is at the center of the celebrated Remembering Wildlife photography book series. Since launching in 2016 with Remembering Elephants, the collection has raised awareness and funds to support endangered animals. In October, the series will release 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife, the first multi-species book in the series.

lioness stands on rocky beach as waves approach — **‘Gama, the beach huntress’**
“Gama, a desert adapted lioness and part of a small group of lions that have learned to navigate this unforgiving landscape, venturing to the ocean’s edge to hunt seals. in a place where survival is a constant battle, Gama embodies the resilience and adaptability of nature’s most elusive predators.”
Location: Namibia
Species: Lioness
*Credit: Griet Van Malderen / Remembering Wildlife*

The new book will feature 20 stunning wildlife images (seen here on Popular Science) selected from 4,500 entries alongside photographs from previous editions.

“Remembering Wildlife exists to raise awareness of the plight facing wildlife, as well as funds to protect species at risk,” a statement reads. “More than 55,000 books have been sold worldwide since its first title, Remembering Elephants, was published in 2016. All profits from the books go to conservation and more than £1.2m GBP/$1.55m USD has been donated to 79 projects in 34 countries.”

two rhinos knock horns in a muddy pit — **‘Clash of Titans’**
Illegal poaching of rhinos for their horns means they remain under huge threat. Remembering Wildlife has donated funds to several rhino protection units and conservation projects, helping to provide smart phones fitted with cameras and GPS systems, fuel for patrol vehicles and clothing for rangers.
Location: Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya
Species: Rhinos
*Credit: Alessandro Marena / Remembering Wildlife*

a mother elephant and her baby reaching up — **‘A Touching Moment’**
“A young Asian Elephant calf asking for a drink, as mother drinks water from Ramganga river, during hot summer afternoon.”
Location: Corbett National Park, India
Species: Elephants
*Credit: Jagdeep Rajput / Remembering Wildlife* @Jagdeep Rajput

a mother polar bear and her two cubs on a snowy hill — **‘Age of Innocence’**
“Baffin Island is one of the most majestic & pristine environments in the world to see polar bears, especially in March & April when the sea ice has frozen. However, with temperatures between-30 to -40 it is also one of the most challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent most of the morning & part of the afternoon with this mother & her COYS (Cubs of the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den. However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked & she & the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them & when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother & cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother sleeps is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.”
Location: Baffin Island, Canada
Species: Polar bears
*Credit: Julie Oldroyd / Remembering Wildlife*

Kwitonda Gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. a mother and baby looking sweetly at each other — **‘In the Arms of Eternity: A Mother’s Timeless Promise’**
“A mountain gorilla mother cradles her infant – a portrait of tenderness etched in shadows and light. Here, where Dian Fossey’s legacy still whispers through the bamboo, every touch is a lesson, every gaze a vow. Her quiet strength shields not just her child, but the fragile future of species reborn from the brink.”
Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Species: Mountain Gorilla and her baby
*Credit: Kim Paffen / Remembering Wildlife* Kim Paffen

a tiger lays staring at its reflection in a puddle — **‘Tiger reflection’**
Weighing up to 260kg and measuring up to 3 metres in length, the tiger is the largest of the big cats. It is found in Asia, from India – where two-thirds of all wild tigers live – through to the Russian Far East and into China.
Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, India
Species: Tiger
*Credit: Bircan Harper / Remembering Wildlife* BIRCAN HARPER

a group of cheetahs sits in the rain — ‘**Mbili bora in the rain’**
“The famous coalition of 5 cheetahs that ruled the Masai Mara, during a storm.”
Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
Species: Cheetahs
*Credit: Xavier Ortega / Remembering Wildlife*

a sloth bear exits an abandoned building — **‘Cold Callers Welcome’**
“Sloth Bear making use of an abandoned building.”
Location: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
Species: Sloth bear
*Credit: Mark Meth-Cohn / Remembering Wildlife*

cracked earth in the foreground as an elephant walks against a sunset — **‘Thirst’**
Remembering Wildlife supports several elephant conservation projects in Kenya, including the funding of ‘bee fences’, an effective elephant deterrent that landowners can install (elephants hate bees); and anti-poaching teams.
Location: Kenya
Species: Elephant
*Credit: Tom Way / Remembering Wildlife*

two tigers stare out into the grasslands — **‘Enjoying the sunrise’**
Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife said: “It’s an oft-quoted fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are left in the world, a stark reminder of how the future of tigers might end if conservationists do not continue their focus and their fight. Tigers are a bellwether for the health of an ecosystem. For every tiger protected in the forest, there are plants, trees, insects, birds and other mammals who thrive.”
Location: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
Species: Tigers
*Credit: Mark Meth-Cohn / Remembering Wildlife*

a group of african wild dog puppies — **‘Puppy love’**
Projects that Remembering Wildlife supports include vaccinating domestic dogs to help prevent the spread of rabies to African wild dogs; GPS collars to track their movements and even helped facilitate the translocation of 14 African wild dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, in a historic project to reintroduce this endangered species to Malawi. Since the successful translocation, pups have been born.
Location: Tswalu Kalahari Nature Reserve, South Africa
Species: African Wild Dog puppies
*Credit: Marcus Westberg / Remembering Wildlife*

I found this rhino mother and calf resting in the heat of the day and guessed they might go to a nearby waterhole later to drink. To make the most of the dusty environment, I positioned myself to shoot into the sun on the route that I guessed they would take when they left, hoping to capture the clouds of amber dust that would form as they walked. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of rhino poaching, I wanted my picture to convey a sense of hope - a new beginning almost - as if these were the first rhinos being forged in a fire of creation. The effect of the backlit dust, creating a blurred shadow image, added to the ethereal effect. Botswana only reintroduced rhinos to the wild relatively recently and the programme had been doing well but the impact of Covid effectively shut down the tourism industry for two years. With fewer eyes on the ground, it became a lot easier for poachers to access wildlife areas without being detected and they were quick to take advantage. Consequently, unfortunately, in the last two years many of Botswana's rhinos have been killed. — **‘Fire of Creation’**
“Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of rhino poaching – much of Botswana’s rhino population was wiped out during the covid-related absence of tourists – I wanted to create an image that conveyed a sense of hope – a new beginning almost – as if these were the first rhinos being forged in a fire of creation. Having waited at a waterhole in the hope that these rhino would come to drink, I positioned myself on the route I anticipated they would exit in order to shoot into the sun. The effect of the backlit dust, which created a blurred shadow image, added to the ethereal effect.”
Location: Kalahari, Botswana
Species: Rhinos
*Credit: James Gifford / Remembering Wildlife* James Gifford

a lioness carries her cub by the scruff of its neck — **‘Carried Away’**
“A lioness carries one of her two little ones to a new hiding spot in early morning. Taken in 2021 when vehicle traffic was light and we were able to follow without impacting her movements.”
Location: Maasai Mara
Species: Lioness and her cub
*Credit: Vicki Jauron / Remembering Wildlife*

a group of wild dogs walking down a dirt path — **‘Entourage’**
“One very early morning we found the painted dogs on the road, and they looked like they just woke up. We pulled to the side and got out of the car to photograph the dogs coming towards us. They didn’t disappoint. We gave them their space, but they chose to approach us. They would walk toward us and then pass us very calmly and casually. It was an incredible moment to capture the pack coming straight at me. A moment I will never forget.”
Location: Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Species: Wild dogs
*Credit: Torie Hilley / Remembering Wildlife* Torie Hilley

a black leopard and a spotted leopard resting on a tree branch — **‘A Majestic Union!’**
“A three year wait bears fruit as I managed to get an exclusive sighting of this ever-elusive Melanistic Leopard and his lady.”
Location: Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India
Species: Leopards
*Credit: Kaustubh Mulay / Remembering Wildlife*

a group of cheetahs at night — **‘5 at Blue hour’**
“Five cheetahs at the Shompole Hide at blue hour.”
Location: Shompole Hide, Kenya
Species: Cheetahs
*Credit: Johann du Toit / Remembering Wildlife* Johann du Toit

a pangolin in a tree — **‘African Black Bellied Pangolin’**
The landmark book *10 Years of Remembering Wildlife* has a special focus on pangolins – also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet.
Location: Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha, National Park Central African Republic
Species: Black bellied pangolin
*Credit: Alessandra Sikand / Remembering Wildlife*

a leopard sitting on a road as sunlight comes through the trees — **‘Leopard Enjoying Morning Sun Break’**
“After three days of heavy downpour this leopard took the opportunity to enjoy the first morning sun break.”
Location: Wilpattu National Park,Sri Lanka
Species: Leopard
*Credit: Ifham Raji / Remembering Wildlife*

a pangolin at sunset — **‘Sunset Scales’**
“The vibrant colours of a winter dusk highlight the gentle spark of life in our planet’s most trafficked mammal.”
Location: Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
Species: Pangolin
*Credit: Armand Grobler / Remembering Wildlife*

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