Wildebeest Extinction Unfolding”: Angela & Jonathan Scott at Xposure 2025

Photo: Sharjah Government Media Bureau

The award-winning photographer couple, Angela and Jonathan Scott, returned to the International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025 with a powerful message. Through their years of documenting East Africa’s wildlife, they have seen firsthand how human activities are threatening the Great Migration of wildebeests. Their talk, titled Exploring the Uncertain Future of East Africa’s Great Wildlife Migration, left the audience deeply moved.

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A Crisis Unfolding

The Great Migration is one of the most incredible sights in nature, with over a million wildebeests traveling across East Africa. But this natural wonder is under serious threat. “We’ve been watching this migration for decades, and the changes are undeniable,” Jonathan Scott said.

Wildlife appears to be abundant, but the ecosystem that supports it is breaking down. Human activities like farming, deforestation, and poaching are pushing the balance to its limit. One of the biggest concerns is the destruction of Kenya’s Mau Forest, which provides water to the Mara River. This river is essential for the migration to continue. “Without the Mau Forest, the Mara River will disappear. And if the river goes, the migration collapses,” Jonathan warned.

Another growing threat is poaching. Hunters set wire traps, known as snares, to catch wildebeests for meat. “Every year, up to 100,000 wildebeests—10% of the population—are caught in snares,” Jonathan revealed. These cruel traps don’t just kill; they leave animals suffering for hours or even days.

Climate change is adding to the crisis. The rainy seasons, which once followed a predictable pattern, have become unpredictable. “We used to know when the rains would come. Now, we don’t. Sometimes there’s a drought, sometimes there’s too much rain. Everything is changing,” Jonathan said.

The Maasai and the Land Struggle

The Maasai people, who have lived alongside wildlife for centuries, are also being affected. Their traditional way of life is based on herding cattle, but as land becomes scarcer, conflicts arise. Some Maasai herders have started grazing their cattle in protected areas at night, leading to overgrazing and conflicts with wild predators.

The Great Migration of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara is not the only one in danger. The Loita migration in Kenya, which once had over 120,000 wildebeests, has dropped to just 10,000. In Tanzania, the Tarangire migration is also disappearing due to human expansion. “We are witnessing extinction in real time,” Jonathan warned.

A Call for Change

Angela and Jonathan Scott are not just documenting this crisis; they are taking action. In 2021, they launched the Safari Etiquette campaign to teach tourists how to observe wildlife responsibly. They believe that visitors should respect the animals and their habitat instead of chasing them for photos.

The numbers paint a grim picture. Today, 96% of all mammal life on Earth consists of humans and livestock, leaving only 4% as wild animals. “That should be a wake-up call,” Jonathan stressed. “This isn’t just about saving the wildebeests. It’s about saving the planet for future generations.”

Before ending their talk, Jonathan left the audience with a powerful thought: “Go and see it while you still can. Because if we don’t act now, future generations won’t have that chance.”