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Aaron Gekoski

@aaron_gekoski

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Conservation photojournalist and filmmaker
Former winner at Wildlife/Nature/Environmental Photographer of the Year competitions
Canon

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WEBSITE UPDATE with new imagery from the field. If you get a moment, feel free to browse www.aarongekoski.com (link in bio).

The site brings together nearly two decades of work from the frontline of conservation, covering everything from wildlife trafficking and captivity to tourism, conservation, and human-animal conflict across the globe.

Many of the images are difficult to look at. But alongside the darkness, I also wanted to highlight the people fighting for something better: scientists, NGO workers, educators, anti-poaching units, rescue teams, and those who dedicate their lives to protecting animals. It’s because of you that hope still exists.

Also stay posted for upcoming investigations from Sri Lanka, Bali, Morocco, alongside material from several destinations I can’t speak about just yet.

Thank you to all my clients for their continued trust and for the work they do to help animals. And thanks to everyone else for following along. by @aaron_gekoski

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5 months ago

I left the UK for Africa in 2009, carrying little more than a cheap camera and underwater housing. I wanted to emulate my hero, @davidattenborough, document the natural world and share it with as many people as possible.

It turned out that things weren’t always as they seemed on those BBC films. Everywhere I turned, wildlife was under pressure. Animals were losing their homes to deforestation, targeted for body parts or to create bogus medicines, hunted unsustainably, or kept in cages for our personal amusement or financial gain.

Documenting these stories became an obsession. I would spend the next decade travelling to some of the most remote places on the planet, often working undercover, writing about, filming, and photographing human-animal conflict.

I lived with shark fishermen in Mozambique, trained as a wildlife ranger in Zimbabwe and Borneo, and went on a military-style mission to expose Namibia’s annual seal cull. There was a trip to track the ‘tortoise mafia’ through Madagascar’s sacred forests, and another to document the dog-drowning dungeons in Cambodia.

I’ve spent recent years working to expose cruelty in the exotic pet trade and Wildlife Tourism industry, and been subjected to scenes that no one should witness; images that are burned into my brain. In the process of working on these projects, I’ve seen the worst of humanity, and also the best.

My new book, ANIMOSITY, provides a snapshot of human-animal conflict in today’s ever-changing world; a permanent reminder of a planet in flux, and a record of what may soon be lost forever.

The book contains 15 stories from the frontline of conservation, illustrated with hundreds of hard-hitting images. I've also included lots of tips for any aspiring conservation photographers.

It's been a hugely emotional journey. I can only hope that ANIMOSITY will help inspire others to protect the natural world.

Featuring a foreword by Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Global, and contributions by top animal welfare NGO's.

ANIMOSITY is available on Amazon.

Thanks to @nomadamon78 and Jules, at G2 Entertainment who made this all possible.

#animosity #animalwelfare #conservation #animalrights by @aaron_gekoski

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6 years ago

Some big news today…

For decades, horse-drawn carriages have been part of the postcard image of New York City. Tourists wrapped in blankets, being ridden through Central Park, with the Manhattan skyline rising behind them.

But behind this romanticised image is a rather different reality. Horses navigating congested streets, surrounded by blaring horns, exhaust fumes and thousands of people, often in searing heat. Animals bred to roam and graze, instead spending their working lives pulling tourists through one of the busiest cities on Earth.

I’ve photographed New York’s carriage horses on a number of occasions. While I adore the city, it isn’t a place for animals to be carting tourists around, day in, day out.

Now, after years of campaigning, New York is moving towards ending this controversial practice. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have backed legislation to ban horse-drawn carriage rides, following years of campaigning by animal welfare groups.

If approved by the City Council, the ban would take effect by June 2028, bringing an end to one of the city’s most controversial tourist attractions.

Images taken for @ladyfreethinker by @aaron_gekoski

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5 days ago

📣DETHRONED is out now!

Join award-winning investigative photojournalist @aaron_gekoski as he uncovers the shocking reality behind the global wildlife trade.

Directed by @willfostergrundy and created in association with @fourpaws.international and @terramater.

This eye-opening documentary asks one powerful question: "What becomes of us when we destroy all that is sacred?"

Watch it now on the @terramater YouTube channel. by @aaron_gekoski

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18 days ago

Today, we’re bringing DETHRONED to the world. And we’ve made it free for everyone to watch.

Where did our relationship with big cats go so wrong?

For thousands of years, we have feared them, worshipped them and built myths around them. They became symbols of strength, power and the wild; the ultimate predators.

And yet today, we keep them as pets. Breed them to be selfie props. Trade their body parts for traditional medicine. Hunt them for trophies. And continue to destroy the wild places they depend on.

I’ve spent years photographing big cats and documenting the complicated, often disturbing relationship we have with them. I’ve seen extraordinary beauty, but also what happens when some of the planet’s most important predators become commodities.

That journey became Dethroned.

Filmed across several continents, Dethroned takes us from big cat breeding centres in South Africa and the jungles of Peru, to the wildlife tourism industry of Southeast Asia and deep into the Golden Triangle, one of the darkest hubs of the illegal wildlife trade. Along the way, we spend time with big cat owners in Pakistan and meet victims of human-leopard conflict in the Himalayas.

We also document the extraordinary work of conservationists, including the team at @fourpaws.international, who are working tirelessly to protect these animals.

Dethroned explores a huge range of threats facing big cats. The result is one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging investigations into our relationship with these incredible animals.

At its heart, the film asks a simple question: how did animals we once revered become animals we exploit?

If these photographs move you, please watch and share the film.

🎬 DETHRONED: DIRECTOR’S CUT: OUT NOW on YouTube via our partners at @terramater. Link in bio.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this film possible. A particular shout-out to director @willfostergrundy, whose vision brought this remarkable journey to life. by @aaron_gekoski

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18 days ago

Dethroned explores the complex relationship between humans and big cats. For nearly 20 years, environmental photojournalist and film producer @aaron_gekoski has documented humanity's interactions with animals. In Dethroned, he travels in search of answers, uncovering the stark contrasts in how big cats are treated around the world. In some cultures they are revered and celebrated, while in others they are exploited for their skin, teeth, and other body parts💔🐅

Watch the full documentary Dethroned on the 1st of October on our YouTube channel.

🎬 Dethroned is a co-production of @terramater and @fourcornerse2 in association with @fourpaws.international by @aaron_gekoski

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23 days ago

Five photographers. Five remarkable stories 📸💯 Five new conversations are brewing at The Camera Café Show podcast ☕🤩🎙️

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sitting down with:

📸 Aaron Gekoski — Award Winning Environmental Photojournalist
From conservation and protecting wildlife to exposing the darker side of our relationship with big cats in his film “Dethroned”. @aaron_gekoski

📸 Adam Docker — Commercial Cinematographer
Travelling the world for 25 years. Portraits of people, cultures and stories across more than ninety countries. @adamdockerphoto

📸 Jon McCormack — Nature Photographer & Author
From the Australian Outback to Apple and SeaLegacy. Exploring the patterns of the natural world. @jonmccormackphoto

📸 Elle Leontiev — Fine Art & Documentary Photographer
Sony Open Photographer of the Year 2026 — Siena World Photography Awards Nominee. @elle_tieva_

📸 Melina Coogan — Lifestyle & Documentary Photographer
Finding stories in family life, adventure and the beautiful absurdity of everyday moments. @melinacooganphoto

Five very different journeys. Five unique perspectives 📸 Stories that go far beyond the frame 😍

I can't wait to share these conversations with you! 🎙️ Follow along — the stories are brewing... ☕📸

#Photography #Photographers #Inspiration #Trending by @aaron_gekoski

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24 days ago

Watch the full documentary Dethroned on the 1st of October on @terramater YouTube channel.

Dethroned (2024)

Follow filmmaker Aaron Gekoski on a gripping journey across Pakistan, Thailand, South Africa, and the Golden Triangle as he uncovers the shocking reality behind the global trade in lions, tigers, and leopards. From exotic pets and tiger tourism to traditional medicine and lion breeding farms, Dethroned reveals the hidden cost of our fascination with these majestic animals.

🎬 Dethroned is a co-production of @terramater and @fourcornerse2 in association with @fourpaws.international by @aaron_gekoski

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25 days ago

Pleased to share that my image, Breaking the Circle, has been recognized in this year’s @bigpicturecomp, one of the world’s leading nature and wildlife photography competitions.

The image shows a rescued pangolin undergoing a CT scan in Hoedspruit, South Africa.

A victim of the illegal wildlife trade, she was rescued by @umoyakhulula and given urgent veterinary care by @debbieenglish1654 and her team. Thankfully, she made a full recovery and was eventually released back into the wild.

Pangolins are among the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals, targeted for their scales and meat. For those fortunate enough to be rescued, survival can depend on intensive medical care and rehabilitation.

Thanks to BigPicture for continuing to give a platform to stories like this, and congratulations to all this year’s awarded photographers, including overall winner Audun Rikardsen, as well as @fernando.faciole, @amivitale, @antonsrkn, @doug_gimesy, @georgina_steytler, @marcogaiotti_naturephotography and many others.

#BigPictureCompetition #BigPictureNaturalWorldPhotography #Pangolin #WildlifePhotography #ConservationPhotography by @aaron_gekoski

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a month ago

DETHRONED, directed by @willfostergrundy and starring award-winning investigative photojournalist @aaron_gekoski, in association with @fourpaws.international and @terramater.

How we treat wildlife says a lot about who we are💔

For centuries, lions, tigers and other big cats have been symbols of power, beauty and wonder. Today, many are exploited, traded and pushed toward extinction.

This extraordinary documentary asks one profound question: "What becomes of us when we destroy all that is sacred?"

🎥Watch the full documentary Dethroned on the 1st of October on our YouTube channel. by @aaron_gekoski

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a month ago

Mahout Rathnayaka rubs temple elephant Gajaba on his lip in Sri Lanka’s Gampaha District.

Elephants have been closely tied to Sri Lanka’s religious and cultural life for centuries. Their use in Buddhist processions can be traced back to the island’s ancient kingdoms, when elephants were associated with royalty, power and ceremony.

That tradition continues today, most visibly during the country’s peraheras, where elephants are dressed in elaborate costumes and walked through crowded streets carrying sacred relics.

But the tradition has an increasingly uncomfortable place in modern Sri Lanka. Many temple elephants spend much of their lives in captivity, often chained for long periods and moved around the country to take part in religious festivals. Their treatment, training and living conditions have become a major animal welfare issue.

Rathnayaka complicated that story for me. During the time I spent with him and Gajaba, he seemed genuinely devoted to the elephant. He stroked him, talked to him and constantly checked on him.

Gajaba would even let out what sounded like a purr when he was rubbed on the lip. There was an obvious familiarity between them that comes from two lives spent together.

It doesn’t change the wider questions around keeping elephants in captivity or using them in religious ceremonies, as most are severely mistreated. But it was a reminder that the story isn’t always as simple as a cruel mahout and a suffering elephant. by @aaron_gekoski

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2 months ago

Is this what conservation looks like to you?

@worldanimalprotectionaustralia recently asked me to visit @balifantasi.benoabay to see whether conditions have changed for the animals.

The plan was to document Johnny, a macaque being kept at the facility. But he is only part of a much larger story.

Around the site, turtles are kept in shallow, dirty and crowded concrete pools and tanks, just a stone’s throw from the ocean. Tourists are pressured to pay to release hatchlings or to pick up the bigger turtles for photo ops.

Elsewhere, rare birds, reptiles and a newly acquired civet are kept inside bare enclosures. Johnny is visibly thin and spends most of his days pacing inside a small cage, biting the wire mesh. It’s a grim place.

Bali Fantasi still presents itself as a conservation facility. There is even a large sign outside carrying its logos along with @bksda__bali describing the site as a sea turtle conservation group. The pictures tell another story.

This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised. World Animal Protection assessed Bali Fantasi twice. It received an animal welfare score of just 2 out of 10: “severely inadequate”.

And my investigations several years ago received significant media coverage. Yet arguably, things have got worse.

Here we are in 2026 and tourists are still being brought here by companies such as @klooktravel, which continue to sell tickets despite the conditions. And the word ‘conservation’ still hangs over the entrance.

There are obvious questions for the people running Bali Fantasi, but also for the authorities responsible for overseeing wildlife in Indonesia, including BKSDA Bali, @bpspldenpasar_wilkerntt and @kkpgoid.

Who is responsible for checking the conditions these animals are actually living in? And what exactly is the plan for Johnny?

Bali continues to fail far too many of the wild animals being kept in captivity here.

We would like to appeal directly to the Minister of Fisheries, @swtrenggono, to look into what is happening at Bali Fantasi Benoa Bay.

Please go and see the conditions for yourself. And do the right thing by the animals still living there.

#bali #indonesia #turtles by @aaron_gekoski

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2 months ago