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 .

The Living on the Edge project came about due to the scarcity of brown bears, wolves and Eurasian lynx in Austria. By contrast, wolves are returning to Germany, there are thriving populations of brown bears in Slovenia, and Switzerland hosts a significant lynx population.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. These questions are being tackled through photography, film and interviews.

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.

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 / wild nature in densely populated Central European countries. Giving wild Central European nature a voice by the means of multimedia.
Uniqueness of the project: As photographers and film-makers we pick up on your stories and turn them into a vivid multimedia package with gripping images and well-considered words. Our wide-angle high resolution images of big predators captured in Central Europe haven’t been captured before. We aim at images that tell the story in one image.
Other activities: Eco tourism, Education, High-impact communications
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: If people in Central Europe again understand that we are a part of nature and can’t work against it and our photographic work can contribute just a tiny bit to this – we’ve reached one of the highest goals in nature conservation.
Results so far: Publications in National Geographic Magazine (Brown Bear story in June 2018), more than a dozen publications in Austrian press, cooperations with national and international key-players in big predator conservation in Central Europe, large format outdoor exhibition in brown bears in Austria, photo exhibitions in Austria, several live presentations in Austria, Germany, Spain. Book on brown bears in Central Europe with a release date in early 2019.
Inspirational value: We are a motivated team of professional photographers and film-makers 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 HighRes images, have done deep research on the issues of big predators, have been visiting all Central European countries and have been documenting different approaches towards big predators.
Experience you would like to share: When it comes to tell stories – either our own field experiences or the stories of people working either with big predators or facing issues when it comes to this topic - we are the right people to ask. Furthermore, we can give advice how to communicate conservation topics, how to network with institutions and how stakeholders can benefit from high quality images and film products.
Experience you would like to gain: The key issue when it comes to raising awareness is how to reach people that aren’t already emotionally involved. So the big goal has to be to reach those that aren’t already open minded! We are keen to hear about your approaches and experiences.
Map
Country
Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Start year
2015
Natural process
Other
Flagship species
Bear, Lynx, Wolf
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 .

The Living on the Edge project came about due to the scarcity of brown bears, wolves and Eurasian lynx in Austria. By contrast, wolves are returning to Germany, there are thriving populations of brown bears in Slovenia, and Switzerland hosts a significant lynx population.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. These questions are being tackled through photography, film and interviews.

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.

Map
Country
Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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 / wild nature in densely populated Central European countries. Giving wild Central European nature a voice by the means of multimedia.
Uniqueness of the project: As photographers and film-makers we pick up on your stories and turn them into a vivid multimedia package with gripping images and well-considered words. Our wide-angle high resolution images of big predators captured in Central Europe haven’t been captured before. We aim at images that tell the story in one image.
Other activities: Eco tourism, Education, High-impact communications
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: If people in Central Europe again understand that we are a part of nature and can’t work against it and our photographic work can contribute just a tiny bit to this – we’ve reached one of the highest goals in nature conservation.
Results so far: Publications in National Geographic Magazine (Brown Bear story in June 2018), more than a dozen publications in Austrian press, cooperations with national and international key-players in big predator conservation in Central Europe, large format outdoor exhibition in brown bears in Austria, photo exhibitions in Austria, several live presentations in Austria, Germany, Spain. Book on brown bears in Central Europe with a release date in early 2019.
Exchange
Inspirational value: We are a motivated team of professional photographers and film-makers 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 HighRes images, have done deep research on the issues of big predators, have been visiting all Central European countries and have been documenting different approaches towards big predators.
Experience you would like to share: When it comes to tell stories – either our own field experiences or the stories of people working either with big predators or facing issues when it comes to this topic - we are the right people to ask. Furthermore, we can give advice how to communicate conservation topics, how to network with institutions and how stakeholders can benefit from high quality images and film products.
Experience you would like to gain: The key issue when it comes to raising awareness is how to reach people that aren’t already emotionally involved. So the big goal has to be to reach those that aren’t already open minded! We are keen to hear about your approaches and experiences.
Living on the Edge
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