European Rewilding Network
ERN1902

Living on the Edge

Raising awareness of large predators in Central Europe and promoting coexistence

Slovenia hosts one of the densest bear populations on this planet and found a way of coexistance of people, all their economic interests and big predators.
Sonvilla Graf
The first high resolution image of a lynx captured in Austria. This image was widely published and raised a lot of awareness for lynx in Austria, especially during the most recent poaching trial in Austria in 2016.
Marc Graf
Living on the Edge project is raising awareness for coexistence with large predators in Central Europe .
Sonvilla Graf
Eurasian wolf photographed in Germany, Lausitz region
Sonvilla Graf
Eurasian lynx wearing a collar in Kalkalpen National Park Austria
Sonvilla Graf
Brown bear photographed via DSLR cameratrap close to villages in Slovenia
Sonvilla Graf

LIVING ON THE EDGE is a photography and public outreach project carried out by three Austrian wildlife and nature conservation photographers, Christine Sonvilla, Marc Graf and Robert Haasmann.

The project came about due to the scarcity of brown bears, wolves and Eurasian lynx in Austria, whilst neighbouring countries host significant numbers of these predators. This inequality prompted the team to ask why some areas of Central Europe have healthy predator populations and others don’t, and whether humans and large carnivores can actually co-exist across the densely populated region.

Through gripping imagery and profound storytelling, and in collaboration with an array of academic institutions and conservation organisations, the Living on the Edge team are working hard to establish a deeper understanding and appreciation for large predators and wild nature. Their efforts will mean future generations can enjoy and are better prepared for a life side by side with such nature in the heart of Europe.

Project: Living on the Edge – public outreach project
Region: Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Italy

 

Specification Description Achievements Exchange
Project: Living on the Edge
Region: Austria
Aim and vision: By the power of gripping imagery and profound storytelling and joining forces with science, NGOs and conservation institutions we work hard on providing the base for a more established understanding and appreciation for big predators and our wild surroundings, so that future generations are better prepared for a life side by side with wilder nature in the heart of Europe.
+ Raising awareness for big predators and wild nature in densely populated Central European countries.
+ Giving wild Central European nature a voice by the means of multimedia communication and public outreach.
Uniqueness of the project: To access the minds and hearts of the public as well as decision-makers, rewilding and conservation efforts need to be properly communicated. Living on the edge uses visual storytelling to do exactly this. The project has captured unique images, particularly of brown bears, that didn’t exist before, thereby creating a visual language that brings across conservation in a memorable and powerful way.
Other activities: Educational talks, Photo exhibitions
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Wild nature isn’t a commodity we can buy or trade, it is the foundation for all life – including humans – and economic wellbeing. It is our aim to help shape this awareness and to help bring nature back on the top of the agenda of decision-makers.
Results so far: The project was awarded with the Beca MontPhoto WWF Grant in October 2016 and several images created by the contributing photographers have received kudos at prestigious international photography contests such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

It resulted in 11 print publications in magazines such as National Geographic or Terre sauvage and led to the creation of the book “Unter wilden Bären”. Dozens of multimedia talks have been presented on the topic at different photography and nature conservation events in Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, oftentimes accompanied by photo exhibitions.
The main photography work is completed but the public outreach is ongoing and growing.
Inspirational value: We are dedicated team of professional photographers and filmmakers with an educational background in conservation ecology. We’ve gained a lot of experience in the field when it comes to photographing bear, wolf and lynx in Central Europe. We used high resolution photo trapping with DSLR cameras for producing HighRes images, have carried out in-depth research on the issues of big predators, have been visiting all Central European countries and have been documenting different approaches towards co-existing with big predators.
Experience you would like to share: Visual storytelling and public outreach are our expertise. We can provide advice on how to communicate conservation topics effectively, how to network with institutions and how stakeholders can benefit from high quality images and film products.
Experience you would like to gain: We would like to get in touch with like-minded projects, scientists and communicators to learn from each other and enhance our communication impact.
Map
Country
Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
Start year
2015
Natural process
Other
Flagship species
Bear, Lynx, Wolf
Living on the Edge
Living on the Edge
Slovenia hosts one of the densest bear populations on this planet and found a way of coexistance of people, all their economic interests and big predators.
Sonvilla Graf
The first high resolution image of a lynx captured in Austria. This image was widely published and raised a lot of awareness for lynx in Austria, especially during the most recent poaching trial in Austria in 2016.
Marc Graf
Living on the Edge project is raising awareness for coexistence with large predators in Central Europe .
Sonvilla Graf
Eurasian wolf photographed in Germany, Lausitz region
Sonvilla Graf
Eurasian lynx wearing a collar in Kalkalpen National Park Austria
Sonvilla Graf
Brown bear photographed via DSLR cameratrap close to villages in Slovenia
Sonvilla Graf

LIVING ON THE EDGE is a photography and public outreach project carried out by three Austrian wildlife and nature conservation photographers, Christine Sonvilla, Marc Graf and Robert Haasmann.

The project came about due to the scarcity of brown bears, wolves and Eurasian lynx in Austria, whilst neighbouring countries host significant numbers of these predators. This inequality prompted the team to ask why some areas of Central Europe have healthy predator populations and others don’t, and whether humans and large carnivores can actually co-exist across the densely populated region.

Through gripping imagery and profound storytelling, and in collaboration with an array of academic institutions and conservation organisations, the Living on the Edge team are working hard to establish a deeper understanding and appreciation for large predators and wild nature. Their efforts will mean future generations can enjoy and are better prepared for a life side by side with such nature in the heart of Europe.

Project: Living on the Edge – public outreach project
Region: Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Italy

 

Map
Country
Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
Start year
2015
Natural process
Other
Flagship species
Bear, Lynx, Wolf
Specification
Project: Living on the Edge
Region: Austria
Description
Aim and vision: By the power of gripping imagery and profound storytelling and joining forces with science, NGOs and conservation institutions we work hard on providing the base for a more established understanding and appreciation for big predators and our wild surroundings, so that future generations are better prepared for a life side by side with wilder nature in the heart of Europe.
+ Raising awareness for big predators and wild nature in densely populated Central European countries.
+ Giving wild Central European nature a voice by the means of multimedia communication and public outreach.
Uniqueness of the project: To access the minds and hearts of the public as well as decision-makers, rewilding and conservation efforts need to be properly communicated. Living on the edge uses visual storytelling to do exactly this. The project has captured unique images, particularly of brown bears, that didn’t exist before, thereby creating a visual language that brings across conservation in a memorable and powerful way.
Other activities: Educational talks, Photo exhibitions
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Wild nature isn’t a commodity we can buy or trade, it is the foundation for all life – including humans – and economic wellbeing. It is our aim to help shape this awareness and to help bring nature back on the top of the agenda of decision-makers.
Results so far: The project was awarded with the Beca MontPhoto WWF Grant in October 2016 and several images created by the contributing photographers have received kudos at prestigious international photography contests such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

It resulted in 11 print publications in magazines such as National Geographic or Terre sauvage and led to the creation of the book “Unter wilden Bären”. Dozens of multimedia talks have been presented on the topic at different photography and nature conservation events in Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, oftentimes accompanied by photo exhibitions.
The main photography work is completed but the public outreach is ongoing and growing.
Exchange
Inspirational value: We are dedicated team of professional photographers and filmmakers with an educational background in conservation ecology. We’ve gained a lot of experience in the field when it comes to photographing bear, wolf and lynx in Central Europe. We used high resolution photo trapping with DSLR cameras for producing HighRes images, have carried out in-depth research on the issues of big predators, have been visiting all Central European countries and have been documenting different approaches towards co-existing with big predators.
Experience you would like to share: Visual storytelling and public outreach are our expertise. We can provide advice on how to communicate conservation topics effectively, how to network with institutions and how stakeholders can benefit from high quality images and film products.
Experience you would like to gain: We would like to get in touch with like-minded projects, scientists and communicators to learn from each other and enhance our communication impact.
Living on the Edge
Living on the Edge
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