5 Influencer Photographers Who Are Giving A Voice To The Animal Kingdom

There are wild animals all over the world that are suffering from extinction or experiencing challenges of all different kinds.

One of our favorite things about influencers and social media is that it gives us a look into events, stories, and animals all across the world that we may not have the ability to see without the help of photographs or video.

We want to share some of our favorite wildlife influencer photographers who are using their platforms to help drive real change, making our world a better place.

Here’s a list of 5 influencer photographers who are giving a voice to incredible animals all over the world!  

1. Ami Vitale - is an American photojournalist and documentary filmmaker. Vitale’s photographs have been published in National Geographic, and, most recently she is covering the wild side of pandas and the incredible Rhinos in Kenya through the amazing organization, Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

 

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Photo by @amivitale. Tomorrow, Feb. 27 in Prague, my exhibit Hope x Extinction opens at @czechphotocz at 6pm. I’ll be giving an artist’s talk and two VR films will be on display. The show kicks off the new Czech Photo Nature competition for Czech and Slovak photographers. Learn more and make plans to join me at czechphoto.org. The show runs until April 7. Here, an orphaned baby reticulated giraffe embraces @sararacamp wildlife keeper Lekupania. This giraffe will be rehabilitated and return to the wild, as a number of others have done before him. Right now, giraffe are undergoing what has been referred to as a silent extinction. Current estimates are that giraffe populations across Africa have dropped 40 percent in three decades, plummeting from approximately 155,000 in the late 1980s to under 100,000 today. The decline is thought to be caused by to habitat loss and fragmentation and poaching, but because there haven’t been long term conservation efforts in the past, it’s hard to know exactly what it happening. Reticulated giraffe themselves number fewer than 16,000 individuals. Scientists are now undertaking major studies to better understand why giraffe are disappearing and what can be done to stop it. Follow @doconnor16 @giraffe_conservation @sdzsafaripark to learn more. In a world of 7 billion, we need to start recognizing that we are not separate from nature. When we see ourselves as part of nature, then saving nature is really about saving ourselves. @conservationorg @nrt_kenya @sararacamp @kenyawildlifeservice @thephotosociety @natgeo @r.e.s.c.u.e #protectgiraffes #DontLetThemDisappear #giraffe #giraffes #savegiraffes #stoppoaching #kenya #northernkenya #africa #everydayafrica #photojournalism #nikon #d4s #nikonambassador #nikonnofilter #natureisspeaking #conservation #amivitale

A post shared by Ami Vitale (@amivitale) on Feb 26, 2019 at 8:30am PST

2. Cristina Mittermeier - is a contributing photographer, speaker, and explorer for National Geographic. She is the founder and President of SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization working to protect the oceans.

 

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Nature is neither merciful nor cruel. I spent a lot of time following this mother and her infant calf across the savanna. Baby elephants are capable of walking almost from birth, but they are also vulnerable. You can see in this photo that this little one was missing its tail- which was probably the outcome of an attack by hyenas or lions. Because the calf survived, its mother most likely fought them off. Now, slowed down by the injured calf, she cannot keep up with the rest of the herd, which would afford this pitiful pair much more protection. The other day I asked - what does art mean to you? I am grateful for all of your answers, as I am grateful to @instagram for the existence of a platform that enables me to share my work and my passion with all of you this way; a platform that empowers meaningful conversation about both conservation and art. Shout outs to @garthleestrings, @emelou_who, @luluparee, @withmygoodeyeclosed, @gwanderer_85, @ciegross65, @woolondon, @laurelverde for your especially thoughtful responses. Thank you! Now I’m wondering, if you’re an artist, what are you most passionate about? Where does your passion come from? #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #conservation #artistsoninstagram

A post shared by Cristina Mittermeier (@cristinamittermeier) on Feb 26, 2019 at 9:41am PST

3. Beverly Joubert - is an intuitive photographer she lives and breathes Africa and its wild open places filled with big cats and elephants, racing zebras or bubbling lava flows. Her passion for wildlife is endless.

 

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Portrait of the dominant male lion at Duba Plains and a phenomenal female known as #Fekeetsa, meaning to overpower, or overcome the odds. Fekeetsa has overcome a broken foot which has healed, but hindered her slightly. She is now one of the senior lionesses in this pride. She has an unusual hunting technique. Unable to chase antelope down over long distances due to her foot, she hunts more like a leopard and patrols the swamps looking for young lechwe antelope that she can ambush. She is successful almost daily and provides enough meat for the pride so that they don’t need to move around in search of prey and have become very much resident on the edge of the swamps. #ThisIsMyTrophy #OkavangoLions #TsaroPride #DubaPlains

A post shared by Beverly Joubert (@beverlyjoubert) on Feb 15, 2019 at 1:42am PST

4. Chris Burkard - is an American photographer and artist, based in California. He photographs the landscape, lifestyle, surf, outdoor and travel subjects. Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.

 

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Even in the harshest environments you can find pristine moments like these. In the stillness of the sea you begin to become apart of the environment .. everything connects. This is maybe one reason why we venture across the world to some of the coldest and most remote places on earth. To find these rare moments, the ones that aren’t meant to last.

A post shared by ChrisBurkard (@chrisburkard) on Mar 22, 2019 at 5:28pm PDT

5. Jonathan & Angie Scott - are award-winning wildlife photographers and authors who have made their name documenting the lives of lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. 

 

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The migration in the Mara Serengeti never fails to overwhelm the senses #allnatureshots #Ig_shotz #nature_org #africanamazing #exclusive_wildlife #majestic_wildlife_ #featured_wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeaddicts_ #Photooftheday #Picoftheday @canonuk #canoncollectiveofficial #photosafari #Wildlife_Seekers

A post shared by Jonathan & Angie Scott (@thebigcatpeople) on Jan 17, 2018 at 1:15am PST

Let us know some of your favorites below!