THE HIMALAYAS

Hi First name / everyone I hope this newsletter finds you well? What a crazy few months it has been. The last 3 months I have caught 18 flights, visited 8 countries and taken over 20,000 photos. I promise that is not a complaint, but as I gear up for a 10 night stay in the delta tomorrow (which includes another 16 flights!) I can't help but long for a few weeks at home to catch my breath… Maybe next year!

 

It does bring some excitement though, as I have so much to share with you all over the next few months. Starting from this newsletter which is all about my expedition in the search of snow leopards! “A wild perspective” newsletter is further away from warm Botswana as it has ever been. I hope you enjoy #58, and thank you as always for viewing.

 

- William

I would love you to take a moment to watch my latest short video from the Masai Mara. While hosting a photographic safari for Pangolin photo safaris, my guests and I witnessing a huge wildebeest crossing of the Masai Mara river in Kenya. Pictures and trip report will be shared soon but for now, please enjoy the video and make sure to subscribe! 

Since I was a little boy, I have dreamed of trekking through the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas searching for "the ghost”. A species so rare and secretive that it is hard to believe I would ever have the opportunity to get a glimpse of one in the wild. Incredibly though, thanks to Pangolin I was entrusted to do exactly that, and what an incredible experience it was!

 

I don't know where to start with describing the epic beauty that northern India has to offer. From the vast snow capped mountains looming over the valleys, to the vibrancy of the fabrics that adorn the incredibly diverse people that call this area home. This land is truly a feast for they eyes, and don't even get me started on the food!

 

It is safe to say that this trip instantly climbed high up my list of favourite expeditions. Before I share my wildlife images from the trip; here are a selection of images of the people that call Ladakh home. Pashmina goat herders, monks, and the snow leopard trackers.  

As we made our way into the mountains, the excitement grew. The element of unknown, whether we would even get a glimpse of a snow leopard, only increased this feeling. By the end of the 7 days we spent on the mountains we were lucky enough to have not 1, not 2, but 3 different snow leopard sightings, as well as arguably an even rarer sighting of a Himalayan wolf! 

 

While the sightings were often far away even with the Canon 1200mm lens, it was thrilling enough even just to see these incredible cats. I am still sifting through all the images, but for now here are some of my favourite images of not only the leopards, but also a few other species that we were lucky enough to see. I hope you enjoy!

"The Guardian" was photographed in a undisclosed location in Botswana 2017. In January 2017 I had booked a week long stay at this location. As I am sure you know by now, but I love the rainy season. Not only because of its unique conditions and sightings, but also because most of the parks are incredibly quiet over that period. As a result you often have the opportunity to sit with subjects for longer periods of time, observing and ultimately capturing different behaviour. 

 

I had spent nearly three hours with this rhino as it slowly mad its way through an open pan grazing. In the beginning it was more cautious but over time it got so relaxed that it came within a few meters of my car. The whole time being followed by it little guardian, a cattle egret. 

 

The Western Cattle Egret was searching for insects flushed from the grass as the Rhino pushed through it. I think the image works well as it is a juxtaposition between dark and light, hope and uncertainty. While the Cattle Egret takes centre stage the Rhino can be seen fading into the background, indicative of the species’ rapid decline.

 

The image was awarded the bronze award in the Bird Photographer of the Year in 2019, and continues to feature as one of my favourite images taken in the last 10 years. 

 

Thank you as always for reading and I cannot wait to hear what you think of this months newsletter! The next newsletter is coming soon, so make sure you have signed up and feel free to forward it to your friends!

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