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Margot Raggett has dedicated the past decade to gathering donations for conservation efforts around the world, but now she expresses concern about the prospects ahead. "It does feel like we've taken a backward step," she remarked.

Through her Wildlife Memorial series—an yearly, charitable photo collection showcasing photographs from the world's top wildlife artists—she has raised £1.2m over the last decade. The first edition was released in 2015, during the time of the formulation of the Paris climate agreement, but since then, initiatives to tackle the climate crisis have been rolled back.

Relative to a recent past, there was a push for renewables instead of fossil fuel extraction globally. I think the importance of nature is something for us all to hold onto.

Nevertheless, she holds some hope. "I feel anxious but at the same time I'm encouraged by the fact that there are numerous individuals that continue to show concern. I'll do everything I can to keep my end of the bargain and continue the struggle. And I know there's lots of other people who share this view, so time will tell, but we must not be unconcerned."

An Unsettling Graphic Warning of What Could Be

This latest publication, called Ten Years of Remembering Wildlife, includes unaltered and altered images of creatures such as polar bears, big cats, and pangolins living in and then erased from their natural habitats.

Raggett stated these images were intended to be "thought-provoking" and to provide a glimpse of the future if we continue as we are. "The rate of animal population decrease is so rapid worldwide and there's a lot of work to be done to turn it around. We really could be looking at a tomorrow where these settings would be without these creatures," she commented. "That's why we produced it, to make people pause and understand what may occur if we don't take action."

Concerns Close to Home

While much of her professional work has taken her to distant locations like East Africa, Tanzania, and the Himalayas, she also has reservations about developments in her native land. The government has committed to build 1.5 million homes by the end of its first term in parliament.

As part of this, officials have instructed the ecological authority to approve planning applications in England with little opposition, a decision that has dismayed conservation advocates. Earlier recently, it was reported that a senior official spoke proudly of unblocking a housing project of 20,000 homes that was being held up by "some snails on the site."

Raggett urged a "massive pause" on the government's "near-sighted" plans for rapid construction. "It's crucial to recognise is that we are all connected with nature," she stated. "It's simple in a built-up nation like ours to not understand the role every animal plays in our ecosystem, how they support forest health and the impact that has on removing CO2 from the air.

"I feel like, in this nation, there are enough brownfield sites that ought to be redeveloped before you lose any more rural areas. We've already sacrificed plenty. I think there should be a massive pause."

Inspiration from Heartbreak

Raggett was inspired to create the Remembering Wildlife project after coming across an elephant that had been a victim of illegal hunting in Kenya. "He had a toxic projectile in him and then he began to be consumed by hyenas. I was so horrified and I felt so impotent… so I was determined to try and take action," she shared.

She noted that attempts to clamp down on illegal poaching have been varied. "The impact of poaching rhinos for their horns in South Africa continues to be horrific. I have acquaintances who are based out there and the rate of poaching is shocking but there have been positive developments too. China banning elephant tusks a recently definitely has had an effect but then it pops up in the black market in other parts in Asia," she detailed.

Addressing consumer desire, especially in Asia where illegal wildlife items are used in traditional medicines, is one of the key ways to combat the practice, Raggett emphasized. "Poaching is still a huge illegal enterprise and it's not going anywhere. It's still very much widespread."

Remembering a Iconic Primatologist

Earlier in October, the world-renowned primate expert Jane Goodall died at the age 91. Raggett had encountered her in 2018. "I was amazed by her dedication and determination. She had just arrived from a night flight from Tanzania. At my age, I'd be resting the next morning and yet she had a line of people waiting to have meetings with her. She was totally inspirational and encouraging and had genuine modesty in how she spoke," she reflected. "She leaves behind a remarkable legacy full of insight, and humour as well."