Emily Vines

Nike the Baru having an arvo snack 🐊 Captured last year during a Learning On Country Day with Dhimurru rangers on Gumatj land . . . . . . . . . . . #crocodile #baru #northernterritory #wildlife #nature #natgeo #australia #northeastarnhemland #yirrkala #gove #croc

2025 was a great year! 🩵 18 months ago I took the leap into working for myself which was a scary plunge. This last year has been the most magical, fun, and rewarding year of my professional life and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people I get to meet/work with, the places I get to go, and the stories I get to share through work that never really feels like work at all. 
A few highlights from the year: • Filming critically endangered species with @odonata_foundation documenting their We Save Species recovery program
• Going on The Search with @ripcurl_women 
• Travelling to the island archipelago off Kepa Kurl (Esperance) WA, filming with the Tjaltjraak Rangers x Odonata shearwater tracking project
• Camping on Yolngu Country/ North East Arnhem Land, filming the Dhimurru Rangers x @seashepherdaustralia beach clean up of Waṉuwuy (Cape Arnhem)
• Flying to four remote Arnhem Land homelands and communities in one day, visiting artists’ and art centres.
• Flying on a private plane with six Southern Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallabies to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve with Odonata to help boost genetic diversity 
• Creating brand storytelling for the amazing @jigajigapaint 
• Spending 10 days in the Costa Rican jungle with @saltygoddessretreats 
• Night-filming nocturnal native species at @mtrothwell (full David Attenborough mode)
• Creating an animation for Patagonia Aus — a long-time dream brand to work with. • Capturing the GOR Women’s Surf Festival
• Ending the year with my @saltygoddessretreats dream team on the magical island of Namotu, Fiji 🩵 
And the list goes on. I still pinch myself that I call this my job and so excited to see what 2026 brings ✨

🐋 Finally finished this fun little animation 🐋 How good are whales?

@brisahennessy tearing up Snapper 🩵✨

Once extinct on the mainland, bandicoots make a feisty return. Last week, the team at @odonata_foundation , @phillipislandnp and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation achieved something that felt like a pipedream a decade ago. In just 24 hours, we successfully moved 100 eastern barred bandicoots from our Tiverton Farm Safe Haven in western Victoria to Phillip Island (Milawul), where they have now begun a new life in a wild environment. This is the largest movement of genetically recovered bandicoots in the history of this species’ recovery. And while last week marked a groundbreaking moment for these incredible little ecosystem engineers, it is just one leap in an ongoing and decades-long recovery effort. Many organisations and individuals (see below) have played a critical role along the way – it truly does take a village and many all-nighters to bring a species back from the brink. This moment was made possible thanks to the decades-long efforts of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team and its members, with special thanks to Cesar Australia, @phillipislandnp , @zoosvictoria , @parksvic , @deeca_vic , @conservationvolunteers , and the @unimelb . These organisations have all contributed funding, time, expertise, and countless hours to the cause. We also had the privilege of being joined by the Eastern Maar ranger team who supported the safe trapping and monitoring of this significant animal. We would also like to acknowledge the release site as the traditional country of the Bunurong people. At Odonata, we have been able to catalyse our involvement thanks to an investment of AU$2.5 million from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, supporting efforts to protect critically endangered Australian wildlife from extinction. We thank Amazon for their leadership and for helping raise the profile of wildlife recovery in Australia and globally. The world needs a good news story right now, we hope this has brightened your day. *Film, footage and images by James D. Morgan, Getty Images. Additional footage by @joelsharpeprojects , @emvines and Tinderflint. #wesavespecies #crashbandicoot #easternbarredbandicoot

Couple of perfectly timed birds dropping in on @stephaniegilmore warming up for Bells #bellsbeach #surfing #stephgilmore #seabirds

Some mother-and-calf humpback magic from Costa Rica earlier this year, capturing a moment of their journey north 🩵🐋

A week of saltwater, sisterhood, and soul. @namotuisland 🩵We surfed, we laughed, we healed, we softened, we rose. Vinaka Fiji and vinaka to every goddess who showed up with an open heart.🌺🧜‍♀️🫶🏼✨

What can we say? This month started with a leap… On Friday 1st August, six critically endangered southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies took flight, literally, from @mtrothwell Sanctuary to @tidbinbillanaturereserve in Canberra. In return, Tidbinbilla provided Odonata with two genetically bespoke wallabies for our own population. With fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild, each one is precious. By establishing new, genetically diverse populations, we’re creating vital insurance against extinction. This move was made possible thanks to the Southern Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby Recovery Team, @tidbinbillanaturereserve , pilot @southernsunjourney , and @amazon ’s Right Now Climate Fund. Watch the journey and see why this work matters.

Imagine spending your whole day defending your little anemone home? Hard work being a clown fish! 🧡🤍 #Nature #ocean #wildlife #underwaterphotography #wildlifephotography

Getting in some good practice for Bells 🔔

🐬 Did you know? 🐬 When dolphins mate, males often form alliances to increase their chances of mating. They work together to herd a female to the surface, belly up, and take turns attempting to mate. This teamwork reduces competition from other males and boosts their chances of successful mating, ensuring their genetic legacy is passed on. Nature is wild! 🌊 Disclaimer: I’m no expert, just a filmer! If any dolphin experts want to chime in, feel free to share your knowledge on this mating behaviour below. . . . . . #nature #wildlife #ocean #dolphins #wildlifephotography