Rhino kisses and tiny turtles: 100 photographers capture our fragile world

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An exclusive Jane Goodall self-portrait is among prints from 100 leading environmental photographers being sold to help protect endangered habitats. Prints available at vitalimpacts.org until 17 January

Main image: Self Portrait by Jane Goodall, taken during her early days at Gombe in Tanzania: ‘This was taken in, I think, 1962. I was on my own, very high up in the hills and I thought what a great photo this would make. I had to find a place where there was a tree that was just right for balancing the camera. I was pretty proud of myself. I love that picture.’ Photograph: Jane Goodall/Vital Impacts

  • Kamara and Kilifi by Ami Vitale

    ‘Kilifi was an 18-month-old rhino and his keeper, Kamara, was hand-raising him with two other baby rhinos at Lewa wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Kamara would spend 12 hours a day watching over them. Kenya’s black rhino population plummeted to near extinction but numbers are rising due to efforts by the people and government to protect them.’ Ami Vitale has worked in more than 100 countries as a National Geographic photographer and film-maker
    A young rhino with his keeper, Kamara, under a rainbow umbrella

  • An Orangutan’s Struggle for Survival by Andrew Suryono

    ‘Sharing 97% of their DNA with humans, orangutans are considered to be one of the smartest animals on our planet. They are known to be able to use tools and imitate human behaviour, like this youngster using a taro leaf to protect herself from the rain. Despite their intelligence, orangutans are facing extinction: half of their population has vanished in the last 15 years due to deforestation and illegal poaching.’ Andrew Suryono is an award-winning photographer known for his fine art, nature, travel and commercial works.
    A young orangutan uses a big leaf as an umbrella

  • Green Sea Turtle by Aimee Jan

    An endangered green sea turtle surrounded by glass fish rests on the Ningaloo reef in Australia. Aimee Jan is an underwater photographer based in Australia, focusing on the Ningaloo reef in Western Australia. She was recently named 2021 Ocean Photographer of Year
    A green sea turtle surrounded by small fish

  • Australian Moon by Amy Toensing

    ‘The moon sets behind desert oak trees in the early morning in Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park, Northern Territory. Aboriginal people roamed this land as nomadic hunters and gatherers for tens of thousands of years before Europeans came.’ Amy Toensing, an American photojournalist, has been a contributor to National Geographic for more than 20 years
    The moon sets behind desert oak trees in Australia

  • The Wave by Andy Mann

    ‘While on expedition for National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project, we came across an uncharted sea-mount in the Savage Islands of Macaronesia, about 300 miles west of the Western Sahara. Every few minutes a steep and powerful wave would form out of nowhere, as if it were a monster fishing from the deep.’ Andy Mann is an Emmy-nominated director, National Geographic photographer and marine conservationist
    A huge wave rising out of a calm ocean in Macaronesia (NB: archipelagos are Macaronesia, not Macronesia)

  • Fagradalsfjall Volcano Eruption by Chris Burkard

    ‘Since the morning of its eruption, the airspace around Iceland’s newest volcano has been buzzing with small planes, helicopters and drones. From the air, you can feel the heat rise up and hit you. It’s palpable and creates near-tropical conditions as the warm air contrasts with the cold wet air off the ocean.’ Chris Burkard is an explorer, photographer, speaker and author
    An aerial view of a lava flow from Fagradalsfjall volcano erupting in Iceland

  • Kiss by Jane Goodall

    ‘This photo is of Fifi’s first grandchild, Fax, son of daughter Fanny. It was taken in 1993.’ All of the net proceeds from this print, taken in Gombe national park, Tanzania, will support the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots programme. Dr Jane Goodall is the UN Messenger of Peace for chimpanzees
    A baby and adult chimpanzee kiss in Tanzania

  • Against All Odds by Hannah Le Leu

    ‘A green sea turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air to a sky full of hungry birds off Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Not only has a tropical storm brought out thousands of circling birds, there are also patrolling sharks and large schools of fish on the hunt for baby turtles. Only one in 1,000 hatchlings survive.’ Hannah Le Leu has always been intrigued by the ocean. Its mystery and diversity inspired her to begin her journey underwater as a photographer
    A green sea turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air to a sky full of hungry birds

  • Rajan the Swimming Elephant by Jody MacDonald

    ‘Rajan is a 66-year-old Asian elephant brought to the Andaman Islands for logging in the 1950s. He and 10 other elephants were forced to swim to help bring logged trees to nearby barges and on to the next island. When logging was banned in 2002, Rajan was out of a job. He spent the rest of his days enjoying retirement on one of the islands he helped log. Rajan was the last of the group to survive until his death in 2016. He was truly the last of his kind.’ Jody MacDonald is an award-winning photographer
    An underwater image of an elephant swimming

  • Gibbons (limited edition) by Jim Naughten

    ‘In the evolutionary blink of an eye, humans have come to dominate the planet and our perception is that wildlife is something other, apart from humanity. The images in this series reflect this by using natural history specimens and dioramas, and adding layers and altering and exaggerating colours to highlight the artificial nature of what we are seeing.’ Jim Naughten is an artist exploring historical and natural history subject matter using photography, stereoscopy and painting
    An artificially coloured image of gibbons swinging from trees

  • Malagasy Giant Chameleon at Baobab Alley, Madagascar by Shannon Wild

    ‘As a passionate reptile lover, witnessing this scene was a huge treat. The largest chameleon in Madagascar cautiously crossed a dirt road in a famous part of the country known as Avenue of the Baobabs. I laid down on the road to get to its level and it watched me intently. I used a wide-angle lens to include as much of the environment as possible, given the grand location.’ Shannon Wild is an award-winning wildlife photographer, cinematographer and conservationist
    A Malagasy giant chameleon crosses the road beneath baobab trees

  • Forest Devastation at Dusk by Gideon Mendel

    ‘A view of the burnt forest in Wadbilliga national park in New South Wales, Australia, shot at dusk from a moving vehicle. The region was one of those devastated by unprecedented wildfires at the start of 2020.’ Gideon Mendel’s intimate style of image-making and long-term commitment to socially engaged projects has earned international recognition
    Blurred view of a burnt forest at dusk in Australia

  • Iceland #10 by Daniel Beltrá

    Braided streams cross the Eldvatnseyrar sands on the south-east coast of Iceland
    Streams cross the sand on the coast of Iceland

  • Endangered 2. (limited edition) by Tamara Dean

    ‘Endangered is a reframing of the notion of ourselves as human beings – mammals in a sensitive ecosystem, as vulnerable to the same forces of climate change as every other living creature. Biologists predict that by the end of this century 50% of species living today may face extinction. And humans are not immune.’ Tamara Dean is a critically acclaimed photo media artist
    A stylised photo of naked men and women emerging from water

  • Surface Tension by Steve Woods

    ‘Two female oceanic blacktip sharks circling each other as they hunt a baitball of sardines off the wild east coast of South Africa in the biggest animal migration know to man. I’ve spent countless hours in the water with these wonderful animals and wanted to capture the incredible aqua-dynamics of the sharks form, how they slice through the water, using it to steer and manoeuvre.’ Steve Woods is a wildlife photographer using camera and voice to document the wonders of the natural world and the threats it faces.
    A photo showing the fins of two sharks above the water as they circle each other

  • Pepe’s Swim with Jaguars by Steve Winter

    ‘Two jaguars rescued from the illegal pet trade in south Cancun, Mexico, 2008. The animals were once pets for wealthy people from the drug cartels and when they did not want them anymore they simply let them loose. These two animals were rescued and lived out their last days in a sanctuary.’ Steve Winter and his wife, Sharon Guynup, have been uncovering the illegal trade in big cats for 30 years. Winter has been a wildlife photographer for National Geographic for more than two decades
    A close-up image of two jaguars in a small boat

  • Two Adelie Penguins by Jonathan Irish

    ‘It’s scenes like this that make a trip to the great white continent so memorable. These two Adelie penguins must be in a lovers’ quarrel, as they don’t look like they are on squawking terms.’ Jonathan Irish is a conservation photographer based in Colorado, who specialises in documenting travel and wildlife
    Two Adelie penguins face away from each other against a backdrop of blue sky and ice

  • Mother’s Love by Marco Ronconi

    ‘This image represents maternal protective instinct and a mother’s affection, love and care as she shields her cubs in the harsh winter climate.’ Marco Ronconi is a nature photographer specialising in Nordic wildlife and landscapes
    A polar bear shields her cubs in a blizzard

  • Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth by Suzi Eszterhas

    ‘Mother and two-month-old baby Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) that were rescued when their tree was chopped down with them in it. Miraculously, they survived the fall with only minor injuries and were re-released into the wild near Cahuita national park in Costa Rica.’ Suzi Eszterhas is an award-winning wildlife photographer best known for documenting newborn animals and family life in the wild
    A mother and baby sloth look at the camera as the adult hangs upside down from a tree with the baby on her chest
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