(Cross-posted from my site, where there's an additional photo: https://andrewflenniken.com/2025/03/03/march-3rd-2025-world-wildlife-day/)
A couple of wildlife photos, in honor of World Wildlife Day.
Wildlife should matter to everyone, and does whether they realize it or not. Our environment is a system of systems, and those natural systems interact with human built ones in a multitude of ways large and small. Wildlife are the ambassadors for those systems. Healthy abundant wildlife means healthy wilderness, which makes those points of contact with human systems healthy. If you like clean air and clean water and the things that rely on them (hint: it's everything), wildlife and wilderness play a big role in those things existing. Defending them is self-defense. We're not separate from them in any meaningful way except physical distance.
Frequently not even that! The photos in today's post were taken in a town park (the elk), and on an afternoon whale watching tour.
Wildlife is closer than you think. Go see some! You'll enjoy it.
Gear: Nikon D750, Nikon Z 7II, Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3, Sigma 1.4 Teleconverter