As part of Humans of IWC, we would like to present Kо̄ki Yamada, a Japanese wildlife photographer and a true IWC fan.
His work as a wildlife photographer has taken him to the Antarctic, Arctic, Alaska, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, and India. When he visited Ranthambhore National Park in India back in 2017, he became fascinated by the Royal Bengal Tiger, an endangered species. After this encounter, he continued his work and returned annually to the park, following and photographing the tigers in their natural habitat. His work with the Royal Bengal Tigers led him to win the 8th Nikkei National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year award in 2020.
— A male tiger crossing a lake in an early winter morning. Moving with almost no wake in quiet deep water under dim light. This photo makes us feel as if the wild tiger is in danger of surviving as a species.
Looking back on his first encounter with the Royal Bengal Tiger, Kо̄ki Yamada clearly remembers how he felt:
“In 2017, I spotted the tiger through the viewfinder, and its intensity far exceeded my imagination, as I remember my hands trembling with nervousness and my heart pounding. Even though there was plenty of distance between us, when I saw the tiger coming my way through the viewfinder, I couldn’t fully grasp the distance. Without even noticing, I put the camera down out of fear.”
Ever since, he has been following the daily lives of a family of tigers in their habitat. Even though he has photographed many wild tigers since, he always feels an overwhelming presence from the tiger that would make anyone feel nervous. Seeing the tiger’s determined will to survive in the face of extinction, he started to feel a profound reverence towards wild tigers. This was key in his motivation to help create an environment in which tigers could thrive.
Kо̄ki Yamada has traveled all around the world and has been able to gain insight into the history of humans and wildlife as well as the current situation. The situation in the Galapagos Islands and Ranthambhore in India made helped him realize how we can best help wildlife. This is the realization that tourism could potentially hold the key for co-existence. Even though this might sound like a contradiction, it could be a unique insight gained through his travels.
Read his full articles to find out more about this idea of how tourism could benefit wildlife preservation.
Only humans can impact wildlife preservation in a meaningful way. This, in part, because humanity has a significant impact on the environment of wildlife; through ocean pollution, deforestation and increasing population, the influence of humanity has reached far and wide. Changing our way of living starts with taking an interest in nature and wild animals and considering the relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom.
With this message of increasing awareness for wildlife preservation and creating a sustainable future for both humans and wildlife Kо̄ki Yamada puts his trust in IWC.
“From Antarctica to the Arctic, my partner has always been the Aquatimer Chronograph Galapagos Island. For me, this watch is easier to read than other watches when shooting. Especially the waterproof capabilities are crucial when shooting in rough conditions. Even in 3 weeks of dusty conditions in India’s Ranthambhore National Park, this watch has never failed me.”
A sustainable future for both humans and wildlife: this is what Kо̄ki Yamada strives for. This message resonates with our commitment to passing on a sustainable future to the next generations. Find out more about wildlife preservation and Kо̄ki Yamada’s work through his article “HUMANS AND WILDLIFE MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER”.
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