Wildlife Photography Displays and Highlights Conservation

DULUTH, Minn. — There are lots of ways to get a message across. For some, all it takes is a photograph to add a new perspective to a topic.

That’s the mission for this researcher. Dr. Cameron Whitley teams up with conservation photographers and uses animal imagery to promote climate and conservation issues. Some of these portraits were displayed today at the Lake Superior Zoo. Pictures like these tell a story, helping people better understand animals and their lives. Through research, Whitley discovered a pattern with the pictures.

“And what I found, is that a lot of them are really wildlife. But what people tend to connect with more are portraits. Things like this.” said Dr. Whitley.

According to Whitley, these pictures can connect with people in a unique way. The portraits are humanized, and folks get curious.

“This is what brings people into the image. And then people want to know more.” explained Dr. Whitley. “They want to know; What is the habitat? What does this animal eat? Who is this animal? What do they do? And it’s that stuff that facilitates more conversation, more engagement, more conservation behaviors.”

Whitley is partnering with zoos and aquariums across the country to help spread awareness of animal imagery and promoting conservation behaviors.