Will Burrard-Lucas

A hidden river crossing in Kenya’s Maasai Mara — far from the open plains most people picture when they think of this landscape. Last year, I left a camera trap here for several months in a closed-off, forested part of the reserve, working with @thesafaricollection Footprint Trust, the Narok County Government, and the @maasaimara_nationalreserve Rhino Unit. The goal was to reveal which black rhinos were moving through this dense corridor, where direct sightings are rare and monitoring can be difficult. What came back was a glimpse of a very different Mara: nocturnal, secretive, and full of life. For more on the camera trap gear and techniques behind images like these, take a look at @camtraptions . #cameratrap #cameratrapping #camtraptions #wildlifephotography

Last year, one of my camera traps spent months overlooking this secluded river crossing in a closed-off part of Kenya’s Maasai Mara. I placed it there in collaboration with @thesafaricollection Footprint Trust, the Narok County Government, and the @maasaimara_nationalreserve Rhino Unit to help document how black rhinos and other wildlife were using these dense, hard-to-monitor forest corridors. The aim was not only to create photographs, but also to support rhino monitoring in an area where direct sightings can be difficult. What the camera revealed was a world far removed from the open plains most people associate with the Mara. I’ve shared many more images and the full story behind the project in my blog post — link in bio. A big thank you to everyone who played a part in this project — it was truly a team effort. Particular thanks to the rangers who helped identify locations and looked after the cameras while I was away. If you’re curious about the gear and techniques behind images like these, you can learn more at @camtraptions .

The @Camtraptions PIR Motion Sensor v4 is here — easier to setup, more dependable, and more precise than ever. Camera trapping just levelled up. 🔥 #cameratrap #cameratrapping #camtraptions

A rare glimpse of a giant pangolin, photographed at night with an infrared camera in partnership with @thepangolinproject in Kenya. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this project — along with a couple of others — in my upcoming talk at the @rememberingwildlife 10-year book launch at the Royal Geographical Society on Wed, 8 October. Search on Eventbrite to learn more and book tickets. #GiantPangolin #pangolins #PangolinProject #10yearsofrememberingwildlife #rememberingwildlife @alphauniversebysony.eu @sony.unitedkingdom #Sony #SonyAlpha #SonyLens #SonyImagingAmbassador

Here are some photographs that I took recently with the brand new Sony 400-800mm telephoto zoom lens in @okonjima_nature_reserve and @ongavagamereserve in Namibia. I was expecting the scenery to look beautiful in the wet season, but I wasn’t prepared for the spectacular sight of yellow flowers blanketing the landscape. I spent the whole trip trying to photograph animals in the flowers! The new lens performed very well, and if you’re interested in learning more about it, I’ve put together a field test video which you can find the link to in my bio. I’ll also be giving a talk about it at @thephotographyshow in London on Sunday and Tuesday. A big thank you to all at Ongava and Okonjima for the support. #Namibia #WildlifePhotography #SonyAlpha #Sony400800mm #Sony400800 #SonyLens @alphauniversebysony.eu @sony.unitedkingdom @africat_foundation @naturallynamibia

This is the unseen rainforest in Congo. With its thick canopy and luscious vegetation, a safe haven for unique biodiversity. Over the course of an entire year, Will Burrard-Lucas, a UK-based photographer, worked with WCS and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park to capture images of some of the rarest, endangered mammals for the first time in high definition using his @camtraptions camera trap system. Today, we are teaming up to share the best of them with you. It’s a privilege. “Tropical rainforests don’t give up their secrets easily,” says WCS’s Emma Stokes (@phnompenhtiger ). “You can spend years walking through these forests without seeing much of the extraordinary wildlife that lives there. You only know it’s there by the signs it leaves behind.” These photos also raise an alarm that species we barely know may already be endangered due to habitat loss. Together, we can and must protect them. Pictured: 1 Leopard (Panthera pardus) 2 African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) 3 African forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) 4 Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) 5 African golden cat (Caracal aurata) 6 Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) 7 African palm civet (Nandinia binotata) 8 Black-footed mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes) 9 African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) 10 Water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus) 11 Yellow-backed duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor) 12 Blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) All pictures: ©Will Burrard-Lucas/WCS

#WorldPangolinDay 🌿 At Okonjima Nature Reserve, the AfriCat Foundation is researching Temminck’s Ground Pangolin to aid conservation by assessing whether islands of protected areas, such as ours, can contribute significantly to pangolin conservation and by determining optimal habitat for the Temminck’s Ground Pangolin. We hope to answer key questions such as: What density of pangolin can successfully thrive in the ONR? ▪ How far do pangolins disperse and how much space do they need? ▪ What is the genetic diversity of the pangolin in the Reserve and the level of inter-relatedness? ▪ Are some areas of the Reserve preferred compared to others and if so why? ▪ What are pangolin diet preferences and what affects prey abundance? ▪ What are their major non-anthropogenic threats. By understanding their needs, we can help expand safe habitats. And together with other global conservation efforts, make the world a safer place for this unique and enigmatic species. #africat #pangolin #conservation #research #sustainability #okonjima _____ © @willbl

A white rhino and her young calf photographed last month at @ongavagamereserve in Namibia. We first spotted this pair in the distance but the mother was shy and quickly led her calf away into thick bush. Our guide guessed that she was making her way towards a nearby waterhole so we headed there, positioned ourselves downwind and waited quietly. After about half an hour, our patience was rewarded as she emerged from the bush with her calf trotting along in front. She drank peacefully before eventually heading back the way she had come. #Sony #SonyAlpha #Alpha1 #SonyA1 #SonyLens #SonyGMaster #SonyGenuine #SonyImagingAmbassador @alphauniversebysony.eu @sony.unitedkingdom #Namibia @naturallynamibia

I recently used the new Sony a9 III to photograph red kites in flight. Check out the link in my bio for my full field test video... @alphauniversebysony.eu @sony.unitedkingdom #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotographer #redkite #redkites #SonyAlpha #SonyLens #SonyGMaster #thechoiceofcreators #alphauniversebysonyeu #alphauniverse #SonyGenuine #Alpha9III #A9III #sonyA9III

Some of the varied wildlife from Tadoba, Pench and Bandhavgarh, photographed in India last month with @pugdundeesafaris . 1) Sambar deer, Tadoba 2) Tiger, Pench 3) Spotted deer, Bandhavgarh 4) Gaur, Bandhavgarh 5) Sambar deer, Bandhavgarh 6) Gray langur, Pench 7) Leopard, Pench A big thank you to the naturalists, drivers and all the staff at Waghoba Eco Lodge, Pench Tree Lodge & Kings Lodge. #SonyAlpha #Alpha1 #SonyLens #Alpha1 #SonyA1 #gmaster #SonyLens @alphauniversebysony.eu #alphauniversebysonyeu

A few images from a wonderful tiger sighting on my first day in Tadoba National Park last month with @pugdundeesafaris . A big thank you to @gauravdhotre and all at Waghoba Eco Lodge. #SonyA1 + 400mm f/2.8 #gmaster w/ 2x teleconverter #SonyAlpha #Alpha1 #SonyLens #Alpha1 #SonyLens #sonygm @alphauniversebysony.eu #alphauniversebysonyeu

Last year I teamed up with @shompole_wilderness to construct a waterhole and photographic hide in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley. I was hoping I might get the opportunity to photograph some of the elusive lions that inhabit the area. After quite a few nights of waiting, they eventually turned up. Just me and the lions in the African night, no glass between us. This was an experience that will be hard to beat! . We have continued to improve the hide, making it more comfortable and adding various features for photographers. The number of animals now regularly visiting the waterhole is mind-blowing. Check out @ShompoleHide if you think you might like to visit!