Photographer Raises $1.6M to Save Endangered Species

When Margot Raggett heard David Attenborough ask if we're happy letting our grandchildren only see elephants in picture books, she couldn't shake the image. The British wildlife photographer decided to do something bold: create memorial books for species that are still alive.

Her first book, Remembering Elephants, gathered stunning photographs from the world's best wildlife photographers. The goal was simple but powerful: make people stop and think about what we stand to lose.

The timing couldn't have been harder. Just as Raggett closed her Kickstarter campaign to fund the book, she received a breast cancer diagnosis. But instead of stopping, she worked on the elephant book each morning, then went to radiotherapy each afternoon.

"It kind of almost bonded me even more to the elephants," Raggett says. "I started feeling like elephants were my talisman."

The book struck a chord. Sometimes people tell Raggett they're upset by the name, insisting these animals are still around. That's exactly her point: she wants people to feel that urgency now, while we can still make a difference.

What started as one book became a movement. Remembering Wildlife is now publishing its 11th book, this time focused on giraffes. These gentle giants have declined by 30 to 40 percent since the 1980s, yet they rarely make headlines.

"They are silent, and they deserve a voice like all of the other species we've covered," Raggett explains. Some giraffe populations are thriving, while others have dwindled to just hundreds. The quiet nature of these animals means their struggle often goes unnoticed.

Why This Inspires

Raggett's project proves that one person's creative idea can spark real change. By asking photographers to donate their best work, she's built a collection that celebrates the beauty of wildlife while funding the people working to protect it. Every book sold directly supports conservation organizations on the ground, turning art into action.

Her 11th book, Remembering Giraffes, arrives October 12th, continuing a legacy that transforms awareness into dollars for species protection. Through personal struggle and unwavering commitment, Raggett shows us that it's never too late to fight for what matters.