Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHER Survivor Nyasulu has earned his second consecutive nomination in the Jamma/Living With Wildlife Photography Competition, this time in the Custodians of the Land category.
This unique competition skips staged safari portraits or heavily edited images to focus entirely on honest stories of human-wildlife coexistence, resilience and hope.
Nyasulu was shortlisted in the international wildlife and conservation photography competition for a photograph taken in the Gwayi landscape, where the Umkhonto painted dog pack had denned.
Last year, he was also shortlisted for a photograph of a ranger carrying a recovered snare during a patrol.
Nyasulu said the latest photograph highlights the vital role rangers play in protecting wildlife and conserving the environment.
“Painted dogs are an endangered species and snaring remains one of the threats they face. The Painted Dog Conservation rangers are on the ground patrolling and responding to these threats, and
I was with them documenting their work when I took the photo.
“I photographed one of the rangers removing a snare and framed him through the mopane leaves. For me, the photo is also about the rangers themselves. They do important work on the ground protecting wildlife, but they don’t always get the credit they deserve. They are the true custodians of the land and the first line of defence for our wildlife,” said Nyasulu.
Drawing on his previous experience as a ranger, Nyasulu said photography had given him an opportunity to tell stories from the field that might otherwise go untold. He said he was pleased that his work was gaining recognition.
“Having been a ranger myself, I understand the work happening on the ground. I use photography to amplify those voices and tell our own stories from our own perspective. For me, it is also about ownership of our stories.
“I’m really happy about it. Being shortlisted for the second year shows me that these stories are resonating, and for me as a storyteller, it also shows growth in my work,” said Nyasulu.
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