Although many travellers think that the ‘Big Five’ refers to Africa’s most beautiful, most popular or largest wildlife, it’s actually an old term with a grim history. It was used by trophy hunters in Africa for the five most-prized and dangerous animals to shoot and kill: elephant, rhino, leopard, Cape buffalo and lion.
The New Big 5 project now has a better use for that term: to celebrate the animals that we share the planet with via photography. Launched in April 2020, the international initiative set out to create a new ‘Big Five’, this time of wildlife photography rather than hunting. Shooting with a camera, not a gun.
Created by British photographer Graeme Green, the project is supported by more than 250 global photographers, conservationists and wildlife charities. Among that illustrious number is Dr Jane Goodall, Chris Packham, Marsel van Oosten, Jonathan and Angela Scott, Levison Wood, Save The Elephants, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Polar Bears International, the Orangutan Foundation, and many more.
The project started with travellers from around the world being invited to vote on The New Big 5 website (newbig5.com) for their five favourite animals to photograph or see in photos. The results of the year-long vote have come in and been counted. The five animals chosen by the public for The New Big 5 of wildlife photography are: elephants, polar bears, tigers, gorillas and lions.
offers a different bucket list for travellers, wildlife lovers and photographers to experience in their lifetime, one based on life, art and creativity, rather than one that is rooted in hunting. Visiting the places where animals live helps support local people and also the vital conservation work being done to protect these and other threatened species. All of face serious threats to their existence and are listed as ‘Endangered’, ‘Critically Endangered’ or ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. But they’re just the most visible tip of an iceberg, and part of the project’s aims is to shine a
