Pictures from some of the world's leading nature and wildlife photographers were exhibited at London's Saatchi Gallery today.
For those of us who couldn't make it to the British capital, Conservation International shared some of the images from the exhibit, shown here. The places they represent are indeed remarkable.
On the Look Out: The peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) is believed to have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Each is capable of depth perception and trinocular vision. This allows the peacock mantis to detect semi transparent prey, different coral patterns, and the shimmering scales of hungry barracudas. They also have very powerful claws, known to break the glass of aquariums.
Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI
Monkeys on the Move: The Northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) is a critically endangered resident of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Less than one thousand remain. To help revive them and other unique species, CI helped create green corridors linking the remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest, assuring animals have a wider home to roam.Photo by Luciano Candisani/Caption by CI
The exhibition was opened by CI President Russell A. Mittermeier and BG Group Executive Vice President Charles Bland on Thursday.
"Mittermeier, one of the world's most famous conservationists, is a legendary field biologist who has discovered numerous new species of animals, and is a world authority on primates, amphibians and the wildlife of Madagascar, the Guianas and Brazil," CI's statement added.
No Blast Fishing: A community patrolman on his dugout canoe near the island of Batanta, Raja Ampat. Local communities, aware of the importance of reef habitats to their fisheries, have learned to patrol their waters to protect against cyanide and blast fishing.
Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI
"We are at a critical time in the history of the planet. Over the next decade decisions are going to be made that will affect the lives of millions of people and the survival of thousands of plants and animals," Mittermeier said. "Conservation International's mission is to protect the world's ecosystems for the benefit of humanity. The partnership with BG Group allows us to use photography as a tool for conserving the incredible biodiversity and cultures featured in this exhibition."
A New Species Found Each Week: Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia, has one of the most dense concentrations of marine life on Earth, with over 1,000 species of fish and 600 of coral. In one year, CI divers discovered more than 50 previously unknown species of shrimp, coral, and reef fish - an average rate of one per week. All this in an area about 1/10th the size of England.
Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI
Charles Bland said: "At BG Group we understand that our business activity can have an impact upon the environment and we are committed to making a positive contribution to protecting the environment. Our alliance with CI supports this by helping to build awareness of the importance of our natural world."
Much Ado Below the Surface: 1,250 fish species and 600 hard corals; the greatest biodiversity concentration for a territory its size anywhere on earth. Wayag Lagoon in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is one of several marine protected areas created thanks in part to CI's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP). These surveys quickly document uncharted habitats to help prioritize areas for protection.
Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI
Brand New Frog? This handsome, slender legged treefrog, while known to be a Osteocephalus, may be a new species. Discovered by CI scientists on a recent trip to Para, researchers are still trying to verify if it's ever been identified. With species going extinct every 20 minutes, many disappear without a trace. Since new animal finds have helped humans with everything from diffusing landmines to curing forms of cancer, no one knows what is lost to us when a species vanishes.
Photo by Luciano Candisani/Caption by CI
Said Cristina Mittermeier, Director of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), and one of the photographers whose work is featured in the exhibit, "Conservation photography is a mixture of art, journalism and environmentalism. It mixes beauty and abstract images with profound social comment, and it provides motivation for those who often live in a world far removed from the people, places and wildlife that are featured in this stunning exhibition."
Gentle Giant: Though capable of highly intimidating displays of power when threatened, the largest of the gorillas, Grauer's gorilla, is generally calm and non aggressive.. There are about 16,000 in the wild. All live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. War in the Congo has been a drain on tourism, a primary source of funding for the gorilla's protection.
Photo by John Martin/Caption by CI
More Fish Species Than Anywhere On Earth: CI scientists have documented more than 1,200 species of fish in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, more than any other coral reef environment on the planet. Scientists also believe there are over 550 coral species, an astonishing 70 percent of the world's total.
Chimpanzee Orphanage: Endangered, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is believed to have shared the same ancestry as humans 6 million years ago, making it the closest living relative to human beings. Habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, and human disease are among the threats it faces. Sanctuaries, like Lwiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide care for orphans. Nearly half of primate species worldwide are endangered.
