“Our planet’s wildlife is endlessly fascinating. I love spending time photographing all kinds of creatures, from alien-looking rock agama, bats, squirrels and colourful birds, like rollers, bee-eaters, toucans and hornbills, through to iconic giants, like gorillas, elephants and leopards.

My favourite animal to photograph is the lion. I can happily spend hours watching lions. Since the first time I saw one, many years ago, parading through the long grass in Kenya, the fascination has only grown. I’ve seen them feeding on carcasses, carefully bearing down on prey, or lazing at sunset in golden grass. In Zambia, I had them come pretty close to me when I was on foot in South Luangwa, but they were more interested in nearby warthogs.

They are noble, regal-looking animals, incredibly powerful and fearsome, but they’re also capable of gentle, affectionate behaviour. Hearing the territorial roar of an adult male discharged into the blackness of night, a warning to everyone around, is unforgettable.

Perhaps because they look so strong, many people think they’re doing fine in Africa. But like many other animals currently, their populations are in serious danger from loss of habitat, hunting and human-wildlife conflict.

From around 200,000 lions living in the wild 50 years ago, there are thought to be around just 20,000 remaining. Wild lion numbers have dropped by 43 per cent in just the last 20 years. I hope we can help reverse the decline of lions and other species, all of which are far too valuable to lose. The world’s a far better place with these animals on it.”

www.graeme-green.com
www.instagram.com/graeme.green

My Big 5

Lion
Elephant
Gorilla
Leopard
Gelada Monkey