Journal — Destination: Wildlife™

In Memorandum, Jim Fowler

On May 19th, we celebrated the life of Jim Fowler, one of the world’s most influential conservationists, at the Explorers Club, where he served many posts, including Honorary Chair and Honorary President.

Hordes of pajamaed kids, myself included, first “met” Jim Fowler on Wild Kingdom on Sunday night (1963-1988). For the vast majority of us, that half-hour every week was our first introduction to exotic animals in world’s we had never imagined. (Some of us also sneaked peaks while our parents watched his many visits to the Johnny Carson show. Don’t tell!) Decades later, untold numbers of us, inspired by Jim’s passion and humor, carry on his legacy working to protect and conserve and maybe, introduce a few more people to the wonders our amazing planet and wildlife, Leading the fight is Jim Fowler’s son, avid conservationist, Mark Fowler.

Roberta KravetteJune 5, 2019Jim Fowler, Mark FowlerComment

The Best Place on Earth to See Monarch Butterflies

A high mountain forest outside of Mexico City, Mexico is the site of one of the most amazing and beautiful migrations on earth, monarch butterflies. Each year millions of the orange and black butterflies find their way to the fir trees of Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) It will take 5 or more butterfly generations to complete one round-trip journey from their summer to their winter homes and back. Not a single butterfly will have a moment of previous experience. How is it possible? Team member Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven made the journey find out.

Jorn VangoidtsenhovenMay 23, 2019Monarch butterfly, mexico, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, Vango PhotosComment

Inspired By Orphans, The Passionate Art of Saving Primates

Ape Action Africa in Cameroon is a sanctuary for rescued primates. Some have been rescued from the illegal pet trade, many from a fate as bushmeat still others were too young and small to be of value as either and were left to die in the bush were their mothers and sometimes families were killed.

Two of these infant primates, first a lowland gorilla and later a mustached guenon, were brought to tApe Action Africa, their arrival changed the life trajectory of two amazing women. Meet Rachel Hogan, director of Ape Action Africa and Robin Huffman, fine artist.

Sometimes it takes a whole world to create a village - or a sanctuary.

Roberta KravetteApril 23, 2019Cameroon, Primates, Ape Action Africa, Robin HuffmanComment

My Search for the Best Places to See and Photograph Grizzly Bears

Where can you find grizzly bears in North America? Wildlife photographer, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, better known as Vango Photos takes us on a tour of the best places to find the big, brown bears. Starting in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, Jorn gives us tips on the best places to see and photograph the bears inside the Parks, as well as some of the challenges the species is facing. This is the first in a multi-part series.

Jorn VangoidtsenhovenMarch 31, 2019bear, Grizzly Bear, Yellowstone NP, Yellowstone, Gra, Grand Teton National ParkComment

How to Get Great Photographs of Butterflies

Taking great photographs of butterflies is not easy. The small, delicate creatures are constantly moving. So, what lens is best and what ISO? What’s the difference between Macro and Portrait photography? What time of day are butterflies at their most photogenic? And what about flash or speed flash? To get great photographs of butterflies you need patience and a steady hand, a couple of good lenses and the right settings help, too. Destination: Wildlife Team member and wildlife photographer, Robert Wallace shares some tips and secrets he has developed for taking beautiful buttery photography.

African Mind Games, Giraffes on the Horizon

Funny how the mind works. When a city person finds herself Africa, sometimes giraffes on the horizon can be mistaken for construction cranes. This is what I saw when a herd of giraffes appeared on a hill top in the middle of Namibia’s Etosha National Park.

Roberta KravetteFebruary 20, 2019African Safari, Namibia, GiraffeComment

9 Great Reasons to Love a Turtle Volunteer Holiday in Baja

Sea turtles have staked out some of the most beautiful places on earth as their habitat, volunteering with sea turtles brings you there. Perhaps the ancients were right, this is a wise species: no freezing polar regions for them. You will find sea turtles where the breeze is soft, and the sand and sun are warm. Sea turtles choose the planet’s most amazing places to rest, feed and nest. That means to help them you too must travel there. One of those amazing places is Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sea turtle volunteer tourism holidays are perfect for families, kids to teens love it. But turtle tourism is perfect for the solo travel too, or small groups of like-minded friends.

Roberta KravetteJanuary 12, 2019Sea Turtles, Volunteer Holiday, Baja California Sur MexicoComment

Rescue for the City Weary, Treehouses in the Rainforest

Here, In the last rainforest in the United States, legend says that Yuquiyú, the Taino people’s ancient god of light and life, walked among the trees and cloud covered peaks of the El Yunque forest in Puerto Rico. Today, only a short flight from New York, the Yuquiyú, garden and treehouses are an oasis for city-weary couples and solo travelers.

There are just four comfortable artisan-crafted treehouses situated high among the palms here. Each one sleeps one or two guests only. There are never more than 8 guests on the entire property at one time. Ylang-ylang perfumes the air. Three words describe Yuquiyú: Serenity, Beauty, Renewal.

Roberta KravetteDecember 19, 2018Puerto Rico, Birdwatching, treehouse, romantic weekend Comments

Rescued in New York, Snowy Owl is Free to Soar

When the emaciated and dying young snowy owl was found by a good samaritan and his dog, the North County Animal Rescue knew just what to do. But what happens after rehabilitation? Disappearing habitat and climate change are taking their toll on the world’s remaining snowy owl population. The Friends of the Washington County Grasslands, IBA are working to change that.

Roberta KravetteDecember 5, 2018Comment

Amos Nachoum Wins Sienna International Photography Contest

Wildlife and underwater photographer, Amos Nachoun is winner of the a 2018 Sienna International Photography Contest. Photographers from 156 countries competed with over 48,000 images. Amos took the coveted first prize in the wildlife category for his astounding image of a leopard seal and gentoo penguin. Photographed in the freezing waters of Antarctica, the image is entitled: Facing Reality.

Roberta KravetteNovember 28, 2018Amos Nachoum, Wildlife PhotographyComment

4 Wildlife Saving Organizations That You Should Know

All over the world, small organizations and an army of dedicated people work on the front lines of wildlife conservation. The African continent is home to The Virunga Alliance, the Marine Megafauna Foundation, The Cheetah Conservation Fund, The PAMS Foundation and more. These dedicated, passionate men and women do much of conservation’s heavy, sometimes dangerous, lifting. Human/Wildlife coexistence is a major part of all their programs. There are no corner offices, no formal galas for these folk. Many are unpaid volunteers. They live for their animals - and sometimes they die for them.

Driving the Coronado Scenic Trail Byway, Arizona

Legend has it that this is the route Francisco Vasquez de Coronado travelled in 1540 when looking for the fabled seven “Golden Cities of Cibola,” There were no golden cities. Instead Coronado mapped a treasure of wildlife, nature, and unequaled scenic vistas. This 116-mile (187km) 2-lane road is a rollercoaster ride through the desert high country of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest including the last Designated Primitive Forest in the US Forestry system: The Blue Range Primitive Area. This is a nature photographer’s dream road trip.