It’s about the water.

The long dry season has left the land parched. The animals, thirsty and needing nourishment from the minerals that are only found here, have migrated back to the place where they know there is always water: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

At the height of the rainy season, the animals spread out over 20,000 square kilometers, but when the rains end they always return here, to the Tarangire River, the heart of the migration.

The park is over 2,600 square kilometers, but it’s only the sixth largest national park in Tanzania, where over 30% of the country has been set aside as a park or conservation area.

Tarangire is known for it’s large elephant population and I saw my first wild elephants when we were barely into the park. They not only drink the precious water, but they love to have a mud bath too!

During the peak season, the elephant population soars up to 3,000. But once the wet season begins, the elephants and other animals migrate outside the park onto the floor of the Rift Valley and the vast open Maasai Steppe.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY STATEMENT

As a wildlife photographer, I put the animals first. It is important to me that I do nothing that would change an animal’s behaviour in any way, put any animal at risk, or cause harm to their habitat.

I respect the animals and their environments, and always aim to maintain a safe distance that does not interfere with their behaviour or cause them undue stress. I never bait or lure animals for the sake of a shot, and I do not manipulate the scene in any way that could alter the animal's natural behaviour. My goal is to capture the beauty and wonder of the natural world in an authentic and respectful way, while promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the animals that we share this planet with.

© Anne McKinnell

Extended Editorial License: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The License includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.