Renowned wildlife photographer Margot Raggett has warned that the planet’s natural landscapes could soon be left “devoid of wild animals” if global inaction on conservation and climate change continues.
Raggett, who has raised more than £1.2m for wildlife protection through her Remembering Wildlife photography series, said the world has “taken a backward step” since the optimism of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. “Compared to a few years ago, there was a desire for renewables instead of drilling for oil,” she said. “I think the importance of nature is something for us all to cling on to.”
Her latest book, Ten Years of Remembering Wildlife, marks the project’s 10th anniversary and includes striking new images showing animals — such as cheetahs, polar bears, and pangolins — digitally erased from their natural habitats. The concept, she said, is meant to be “provocative,” offering a glimpse of a future where wildlife vanishes entirely. “The rate of decline is so rapid we could be looking at landscapes without wild animals,” she said.
While Raggett’s work has often focused on Africa and Asia, she also voiced concern about environmental policy in the UK, particularly the government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of its term. She criticized the move to fast-track planning approvals and urged a “massive pause” on large-scale housebuilding. “We are all intertwined with nature,” she said. “There are enough brownfield sites to develop before we lose more countryside.”
Raggett was inspired to start Remembering Wildlife after witnessing a poached elephant in Kenya. She continues to campaign against illegal wildlife trade, calling poaching “a huge criminal industry” that remains rampant despite some successes, such as China’s ivory ban.
She also paid tribute to the late Jane Goodall, who died earlier this month at 91, calling her “totally inspirational” and “a model of determination and humility.”
Despite her concerns, Raggett remains hopeful. “I’m nervous, but encouraged,” she said. “There are so many people who still care. We just can’t be complacent.”
