Renato Granieri talks chimps, penguins and high altitudes

SNAP-CHAT WITH BBC WILDLIFE PICTURE EDITOR TOM GILKS

- TOM GILKS

How did your career in wildlife photography start?

After spending 15 years working behind desks for large corporations, I made the decision to quit and start a career in nature photography. I can proudly say that I have been enjoying life as a wildlife photographer since 2014. Photography has given me the opportunity to have a much more dynamic existence, to travel the world and see things differently. I don't see it as a job, rather a thrilling journey.

What is the current focus of your photography work?

I support Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Freetown, Sierra Leone, where staff care for orphans whose parents have been killed for bushmeat, and also rehabilitate injured individuals. I have been visiting the sanctuary since 2020, taking photographs and making films that tell the story of these chimps, and that raise awareness of wildlife crime and other environmental issues. It's not always been an easy topic, but it's paramount to preserve the country's wildlife and habitats, and to support local communities.

What have been the toughest conditions you've ever had to cope with?