A new era in wildlife conservation is being ushered in with the publication of "The New Big 5", a photography book that turns the lens on endangered animals and inspires action.
Originally coined by trophy hunters in Africa, the term 'Big Five' referred to lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes - animals most challenging to hunt down. Today, photographer Graeme Green has reclaimed this narrative, crowning five animals as the "New Big 5" - the elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger.
These animals were chosen after a global poll in which 50,000 people voted for their favorite species to photograph or see photographed in the wild. The five animals that emerged victorious represent some of the most iconic and endangered species on the planet.
The book features stunning images from renowned wildlife photographers such as Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen, alongside essays from conservationists like Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu.
Graeme Green's vision for the project is not just to showcase beautiful wildlife but also to drive awareness about the urgent issues facing endangered species - habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
The book also highlights a wider range of endangered species beyond the "New Big 5", serving as a powerful reminder of the scale of extinction threats we face.
Green hopes that the images will not only inspire people to care for these animals but also motivate them to take action - whether through supporting conservation efforts or making lifestyle changes.
Conservationist Jane Goodall, who wrote the afterword to the book, echoes this sentiment, saying that "we have a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm we have inflicted on the natural world... if we get together and take action now."
"The New Big 5" is more than just a photography book - it's a call to Earth. By highlighting these iconic species, Green aims to inspire people to join him in driving positive change for wildlife.
The project has been supported by Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative, which aims to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and encourage action.
Originally coined by trophy hunters in Africa, the term 'Big Five' referred to lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes - animals most challenging to hunt down. Today, photographer Graeme Green has reclaimed this narrative, crowning five animals as the "New Big 5" - the elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger.
These animals were chosen after a global poll in which 50,000 people voted for their favorite species to photograph or see photographed in the wild. The five animals that emerged victorious represent some of the most iconic and endangered species on the planet.
The book features stunning images from renowned wildlife photographers such as Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen, alongside essays from conservationists like Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu.
Graeme Green's vision for the project is not just to showcase beautiful wildlife but also to drive awareness about the urgent issues facing endangered species - habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change.
The book also highlights a wider range of endangered species beyond the "New Big 5", serving as a powerful reminder of the scale of extinction threats we face.
Green hopes that the images will not only inspire people to care for these animals but also motivate them to take action - whether through supporting conservation efforts or making lifestyle changes.
Conservationist Jane Goodall, who wrote the afterword to the book, echoes this sentiment, saying that "we have a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm we have inflicted on the natural world... if we get together and take action now."
"The New Big 5" is more than just a photography book - it's a call to Earth. By highlighting these iconic species, Green aims to inspire people to join him in driving positive change for wildlife.
The project has been supported by Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative, which aims to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and encourage action.
. I mean, who doesn't love penguins? Anyway, I do agree with Graeme Green's vision for the project - we need to raise awareness about these endangered species and what's causing their decline.
.
. Just saying 
! It's so sick how Graeme Green took the original "Big Five" concept and flipped it on its head, crowning these incredible animals as the new icons of conservation #WildlifeConservationMatters. The images are insane, featuring some of the most talented photographers out there like Ami Vitale and Steve McCurry 
. But what I love most about this book is that it's not just about showing off gorgeous wildlife pics – it's a call to action, highlighting the urgent issues facing endangered species #SaveThePlanet. The essays from conservationists like Jane Goodall are so inspiring, and I'm totally motivated to make some lifestyle changes to help out 
I gotta say, this "New Big 5" book is actually kinda inspiring 
... but let's keep things real for a sec 
. Conservation efforts are super important, don't get me wrong 
, but we also gotta acknowledge the scale of our impact on the planet 
.
? Like, there are so many more species struggling just as hard. Can we really afford to focus solely on these five? 
... I'm all for it 
. Just gotta be realistic about the scope of things, you know?
.
I'm so done with just looking at cute wildlife pics online without actually doing something about it! This "New Big 5" book is like the wake-up call we needed 
. It's not just about taking pretty pictures, it's about using those images to raise awareness and drive real change. We need more people like Graeme Green who are passionate about conservation and willing to take action 
. The scale of extinction threats is massive, but if we can inspire even a fraction of that many people to care and act, it could make all the difference 
.
. conservationist jane goodall is literally the real MVP for writing that afterword 
it's not just about lookin at pretty pics, it's about makin a difference 
it was a global poll where people voted for their fave species to photograph or see photographed in the wild and guess what? 50k people came together to save these animals 
the pics are insane but what really got me is that they're not just pretty pictures, they're also a reminder of how much we need to do to protect these animals 
i think this project is exactly what we need right now - someone who's using their platform for good 
. We need more people like him who care about our planet and are willing to take a stand for it.
. And if Jane Goodall is on board with this project, that's like a stamp of approval from a legend 
. Let's get behind this movement and make some positive change for our wildlife friends 
