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Marc Schmitt

@marcschmitt.ph

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📍based in the Ammergauer Alpen
🏞 wildlife and landscape

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Change my mind...

...but there's nothing better than observing wild animals in their natural habitat and their natural behavior. When it's a mother and her child of an endangered species, it's even more moving. I had the chance to do this last summer in Kenya. Colobus live together in harem groups – everyone looks out for each other.

An unforgettable moment! 🐒🌴

What To Do Now?

1. Protect their natural forest habitats
Colobus monkeys are strictly arboreal and depend on intact tropical and montane forests for survival. In East Africa, logging, charcoal production, and farmland expansion are fragmenting their forest homes. By supporting forest conservation initiatives, reforestation projects, and sustainable land management in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, you help safeguard their leafy highways in the canopy.

2. Let them stay wild – no feeding or petting
Though they may seem peaceful and photogenic, Colobus monkeys should never be approached or fed. Close human contact disrupts their social structures, spreads disease, and encourages risky behavior like descending to roads or settlements. Keeping a respectful distance allows them to thrive naturally and reduces harmful habituation.

3. Choose forest-friendly products
Deforestation in East Africa is often driven by demand for unsustainable timber, charcoal, and agricultural products like coffee or tea. You can make a difference by choosing shade-grown or certified rainforest-friendly products. Supporting eco-labels like FSC and Fairtrade empowers producers who protect forest habitats – and that means a better future for the Colobus.

#colobusmonkeys #WildlifeFacts #free_animals #wildlife_encounters #natgeoyourshot #natgeowild #freedom #fuckzoosandaquariums #dontbuyaticket #untileverycageisempty taken in Planet Earth by @marcschmitt.ph

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129

a year ago

Explore The World 🌎📸

I’m proud to have explored some of the most stunning places on our planet — from misty forests to wild coastlines, from deserts to mountain peaks.

Every trip reminds me of how precious and fragile our earth is. 🌿💙
That’s why I travel slow, with respect, and a camera in hand — not to conquer nature, but to witness it.

✨ Nature is the greatest luxury.
Not hotels. Not cities.
But breathing in mountain air, watching wildlife from a distance, hearing the ocean crash without interruption.

Let’s choose adventure over exploitation,
freedom over fences,
connection over consumption.

🧭 I believe in:
✅ Sustainable travel
✅ Supporting local & ethical projects
✅ Saying no to zoos and mass tourism
✅ Protecting freedom — for us, and for animals 🐾

🌍 We don’t own this planet. We share it. taken in Planet Earth by @marcschmitt.ph

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86

a year ago

Colobus Monkey 🐒⚠️
This species is vulnerable and the population decreasing. Loss of their natural habitats due to forresting and hunting because of their skin are the main reasons.
At some places so called Colobus-bridges are build, so the animals can climb over streets. This reduces many accidents with cars.

Trying to live as CO2 neutral as possible, eco-tourism, spending to NGOs and Organisations that help these animals, living vegan and/or buying local can help these animals to recover.
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📍Chale Island, Kenya🇰🇪
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📷 Canon R6 @ 200mm
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🏞 more wildlife and landscape @marcschmitt.ph
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#colobus #colobusmonkey #colobusmonkeys #chaleisland #thesandsatchaleisland #wildlife_encounters #wildlife_photography #eildlifephotography #canonphotography #canon_wildlife #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #calumetcommunity #fuckzoosandaquariums #untileverycageisempty #everythingisconnected #freedom #nature #missionerde @chaleislandresort taken in Kenya, Africa by @marcschmitt.ph

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77

2 years ago

World Elephant Day 🐘

Majestic. Intelligent. Social.
And still brutally hunted.

Since 2012, World Elephant Day raises global awareness for the silent crisis elephants face —
poaching, illegal ivory trade, and vanishing habitats.
Only strong action can protect these giants.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Support anti-poaching & habitat protection
✅ Say no to ivory — always
✅ Never ride elephants or visit animal shows
✅ Avoid zoos — choose ethical eco-tourism 🧭
✅ Live sustainably & go vegan 🌱

🐘 Elephants don’t belong in chains. They belong in the wild.

#elephants #elephantday #canon_wildlife taken in Planet Earth by @marcschmitt.ph

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7

2 months ago

World Lion Day – August 12th 🦁👑

The King of Beasts is in danger.
Habitat loss. Poaching. Human conflict.

Lion populations are rapidly declining — and with them, a symbol of wild Africa.
Today we honor the lion, celebrate its strength and beauty,
but also remind the world:
Even kings need protection.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Support lion conservation projects 🛡️
✅ Say no to trophy hunting & canned hunting
✅ Avoid zoos — choose ethical wildlife travel 🧭
✅ Spread awareness about their role in ecosystems
✅ Live sustainably & plant-based 🌱
🦁 Let lions rule the wild — not the cages.

#lion #wildlife_encounters #canon_wildlife taken in Kenya, Africa by @marcschmitt.ph

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11

2 months ago

World Orca Day – July 14th 🖤

Wild. Intelligent. Social.

Orcas are among the most powerful and complex beings in the ocean — and they deserve our protection.

Since 2013, World Orca Day has been a global call to action:
To celebrate these majestic beings.
To protect their oceans.
And to end their suffering in captivity.

🎪 Orcas in aquariums live shortened, stressed, and unnatural lives.
No tank can ever replace the freedom of the sea.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Say NO to dolphin & orca shows
✅ Support wild-focused research & conservation
✅ Learn more about orcas and share their story
✅ Choose sustainable, ocean-friendly lifestyles 🌍
✅ Go plant-based — for the planet and the ocean 🌱

🐋 Orcas don’t belong in tanks. They belong in the wild. Always. by @marcschmitt.ph

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9

3 months ago

World Giraffe Day – June 21st 🦒

The longest day of the year — for the animals with the longest necks.

But despite their height, giraffes are silently disappearing.

🟠 In just 30 years, giraffe populations have declined by nearly 40%.
Habitat loss, poaching, and human conflict are threatening many subspecies.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Support giraffe conservation (like @giraffe_conservation)
✅ Say no to zoos & trophy hunting 🚫
✅ Travel consciously — eco-tourism done right 🧭
✅ Protect wild habitats & live sustainably 🌍
✅ Go vegan — for trees, space, and biodiversity 🌱

🦒 Tall, gentle, iconic. Giraffes deserve a future.

#giraffe #WildAndFree #canon_wildlife taken in Africa by @marcschmitt.ph

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8

4 months ago

World Otter Day – May 27th, 2026 🦦

Playful. Curious. Intelligent.
But all 13 otter species are under threat.

Habitat loss, pollution, and illegal trade are pushing them closer to extinction — silently, year after year.

🌍 Otters matter. To rivers, oceans — and to us.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Support otter conservation
✅ Reduce plastic and protect waterways ♻️
✅ Say no to captivity — otters don’t belong in tanks
✅ Choose eco-tourism & respect wild habitats 🧭
✅ Go vegan — for clean water and healthy ecosystems 🌱

🦦 Let’s protect the wild joy of otters. Before it’s too late.

#otter #wildlife_encounters #canon_wildlife by @marcschmitt.ph

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6

5 months ago

World Migratory Bird Day – May 9 & October 10 🕊️🌍

From hemisphere to hemisphere, across oceans, deserts, and mountains —
migratory birds connect the world.

They pollinate, control insects, spread seeds, and keep ecosystems in balance.

But their ancient journeys are increasingly at risk:
🌲 Deforestation
🏙️ Urban sprawl
🌍 Climate change

Let’s protect their flight paths — and their future.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Provide safe rest stops: bird feeders & water sources
✅ Live CO₂-conscious: go plant-based & eco-friendly
✅ Support conservation groups working globally
✅ Protect forests, wetlands & migration corridors

🕊️ Every wingbeat is a signal — the Earth is still connected.

#birds #birdday #wildlife_encounters taken in Around The World by @marcschmitt.ph

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5 months ago

World Leopard Day – May 3rd 🐆

Stealth. Strength. Spots.
Leopards are among the most adaptable big cats on Earth —
and still, they’re disappearing.

🌍 Habitat loss. Poaching. Trophy hunting. Skin trade.
Even these elusive predators can’t outrun human greed.

This day reminds us:
🟡 Spots belong in the wild — not on walls, runways, or behind bars.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Say NO to zoos, circuses, and big cat selfies
✅ Reject all real fur and exotic skins 🧥
✅ Oppose trophy hunting & the wildlife trade
✅ Support leopard conservation & anti-poaching work
✅ Choose plant-based, conscious living 🌱

🐆 Let them be hunters — not hunted.

#leopard #panther #wildlife_encounters taken in Kenya, Africa by @marcschmitt.ph

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8

5 months ago

World Hyena Day – April 27th 🐾

Feared. Mocked. Misunderstood.
Hyenas deserve better.

Often wrongly labeled as "cowardly scavengers", hyenas are in fact skilled hunters, intelligent social animals, and key players in their ecosystems.
On April 27th, we celebrate these fascinating creatures —
and challenge the myths that surround them.

👉 What can you do?
✅ Learn the facts — not the stereotypes
✅ Support hyena research & protection 🛡️
✅ Say no to captivity & animal shows 🚫
✅ Respect predators as part of a healthy planet 🌍

🖤 Hyenas aren’t villains. They’re vital.

#hyena #wildlife_encounters #canon_wildlife taken in Kenya, Africa by @marcschmitt.ph

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6 months ago

World Stork Month– April 🕊️

Every year around this month, white storks return to Europe — gliding over thousands of kilometers to greet the spring.

In many cultures, they’re symbols of hope, fertility, peace, and new beginnings.
In Lithuania, their national bird is welcomed with festivals, nest-checks and traditions that celebrate life and connection to nature.

But even these graceful travelers face growing challenges:
🛣️ Habitat loss
⚡ Collisions with power lines
🌍 Climate change
👉 What can you do?
✅ Protect wetlands & meadows — don’t pave paradise
✅ Reduce pesticide use & support organic farming
✅ Make your lifestyle more nature-friendly 🌱

🕊️ Let storks remind us: when nature returns, so does hope.

#stork #WildAndFree #canon_wildlife taken in Europe by @marcschmitt.ph

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6 months ago