From the dedicated Necker Island wildlife team caring for endangered species, to the trackers and rangers at Ulusaba protecting animals from poachers, when it comes to wildlife conservation our teams are doing everything they can.
That’s why we’re shining a light on conservation with our Virtually Wild photography competition and exhibition, to learn more about the wildlife behind the lens.
To be in with a chance of featuring in our virtual exhibition and winning a once-in-a-lifetime stay at Ulusaba, all you have to do is share your best wild snaps and the stories behind them.
Here, we share some of ours.
Home to endangered species
With 70% of the species on Necker Island facing extinction, the welfare of these animals has never been more important.
Home to a flock of about 450 flamingos, once extinct in the British Virgin Islands region, the wildlife team’s flamingo breeding programme continues to be a success with around 100 flamingo chicks recently born on island – the first since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Another first on Necker Island was when our giant tortoises naturally bred two babies. This was an incredibly special moment as they will live up to 200 years!
Our other wild neighbours on island include seven different species of lemurs. The Red Ruff lemurs in particular are the most critically endangered, so the team are working to protect and care for them day in and day out.
Beyond the big five
When people think safari, the big five immediately springs to mind, but there is much more going on behind the scenes in the South African bush than meets the eye.
Our trackers and rangers at Ulusaba work to support a number of initiatives such as avoiding off-road driving during game drives to protect endangered plant species.
They also monitor the heath of wildlife to ensure long-term survival and their anti-poaching efforts include reporting suspicious tracks – all with the end goal of preserving the natural beauty of the environment for generations to come.
Find out more about Virtually Wild and how to enter the competition.