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Maria Hashmi | Wildlife & Conservation Educator

@rebelzoologist

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#NatGeoExplorer redefining what it means to be a zoologist in 🇵🇰 | @littlerebelsnaturecamp @littlerebelsremote

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Olivia here, checking in from Wisconsin with a question that doesn’t have a simple answer. 🇺🇸

What’s happening to migratory Arctic caribou?

Across the Arctic, populations have declined by an estimated 65% in recent decades, with some herds falling from more than 500,000 animals to just tens of thousands.

But understanding why means looking at the entire landscape.

Changes in climate can affect ice thaw, vegetation and the timing of plant growth. Insects and predators can add additional pressure. And then there’s another piece of the puzzle: human development and resource extraction.

In fact, 76% of the studies reviewed on extractive industries and caribou found negative impacts.

So as conversations continue around roads, development and opening additional areas to extraction, what could those changes mean for an animal that depends on vast, connected landscapes to survive?

As a wildlife biologist, Olivia takes us beyond a single explanation and into the science behind the decline—because conservation means understanding all the pressures acting on a species before we can talk about solutions.

One species. One landscape. One honest conversation at a time.

Follow @olappin1, join the conversation & stay tuned for more stories from our Field Correspondents!

Caribou conservation, wildlife management, Arctic wildlife, habitat conservation, conservation science, land stewardship

#wildlifeconservation #wildlifemanagement #caribou #habitatconservation #conservation

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@rebelzoologist crosses path with the rare Indian Luna Moth in Pakistan 🇵🇰🦋 #moth #lunamoth #pakistan #wildlife

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Introducing Olivia Lappin (@olappin1 )

Olivia will be our Field Correspondent checking in from Wisconsin with stories from the field! 🇺🇸

What does conservation really look like when science, habitat and people all come together?

For Wisconsin-based wildlife biologist Olivia Lappin, it’s a question she gets to explore firsthand through her work in wildlife management and habitat restoration.

Through her work alongside landowners, conservation organizations and other partners, Olivia brings a science-based perspective to the work happening on the ground—from restoring habitat and managing landscapes to educating the public about wildlife and the role people play in conservation.

Because conservation is never just about one species.

It’s about habitat. Science. People. Partnerships. And creating landscapes where wildlife can thrive for generations to come.

As our next Field Correspondent, Olivia will take us into the field in Wisconsin to explore wildlife management, habitat restoration and the real-world conservation work happening across the landscape.

One habitat. One species. One honest conversation at a time.

Follow along, join the conversation & stay tuned for more stories about conservation from our Field Correspondents!

Wildlife management, habitat restoration, conservation science, land stewardship, conservation in action.

#wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #habitatrestoration #landstewardship #conservation

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Introducing Lame Bogatsu (@lamebogatsu)

Lame will be our Field Correspondent checking in from Botswana with stories from the field! 🇧🇼

What does conservation really look like when you live alongside wildlife?

For Botswana-based journalist, storyteller and communications professional Lame Bogatsu, it’s a question worth exploring—and one she has spent more than 15 years reporting on.

Through her work in journalism and strategic communication, Lame has covered conservation, tourism, community livelihoods and the complex relationship between people and wildlife.

From some of Botswana’s most remote communities, her reporting brings the conversation beyond policies and headlines and into the lives of the people living alongside wildlife every day.

Because conservation is never just about animals.
It’s about people. Communities. Livelihoods. Culture. And the realities of sharing the landscape with wildlife.

As our next Field Correspondent, Lame will bring deeply human, people-centred stories from Botswana and explore the conversations shaping conservation on the ground.

One community. One story. One honest conversation at a time.

Follow along, join the conversation & stay tuned for more stories about conservation from our Field Correspondents!

Conservation, human-wildlife coexistence, community livelihoods, sustainable use, conservation in action.

#wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #humanwildlifeconflict #sustainableuse #conservation

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A moment I’ll remember forever. 🏆🌿

Chameleon Corridors won Best African Film, Best Innovative Wildlife Storytelling, and the Nkaang’ Award, the highest honour at PWFF, Africa’s biggest wildlife film festival.

Nkaang’ means “home” in Maasai, which feels beautifully fitting for a festival that has become a home for African wildlife stories and storytellers.

Huge thanks to the PWFF team, and especially founder Fiona Tande, for championing African talent and giving our stories the stage they deserve.

This film was made by a fully Tanzanian crew, in Swahili, in the Eastern Arc Mountains, and its authenticity is exactly what helped it travel around the world. Congrats to our amazing team!

I hope more African storytellers feel inspired to tell our stories bravely, in our own way.

And if you love African wildlife and storytelling, be at the next PWFF.

Next chapter: Our impact campaign led by @siminickman supported by @earthalliance will be taking the film back across the Eastern Arc Mountains and using it to build pride, connection, visibility and protection for this extraordinary landscape. 🦎🌍

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🌳 Did Marvel accidentally recreate an ancient figure from Pakistan... or is it just an incredible coincidence?

While visiting Kalash Valley in Chitral, I came across a traditional wooden carved figure known locally as Krut. These carvings were created by the Kalashi people to honour and remember their loved ones after death.

What caught my attention was something unexpected: • A remarkably similar appearance to Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. • Even the names—Krut and Groot—sound surprisingly alike.

Is there any connection, or is this simply one of those fascinating coincidences where culture and creativity arrive at similar ideas independently?

I'm not claiming one inspired the other—I'm simply sharing an observation that made me curious.

What do you think?

📍Kalash Valley, Chitral, Pakistan

#Kalash #Chitral #Pakistan #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy #FindFocusFilms

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#RunForTheRainforest participants of the week! 🏅

1) In true Andrea and Tom fashion, a butterfly net was in hand on their hike in France.

2 and 3) @rebelzoologist and her team of (sometimes not-so-)Little Rebels took on the one-mile dash in Pakistan.

4 and 5) ...not far away, @itswildbilal trekked ~400m in elevation across the Chitral Valley. Apparently, the Deodar Cedar tree he found is approximately 1,000 years old and 26 feet in circumference!

6) Nathan Zittoun cycled over eight kilometres across Ithaca, New York.

7 and 8) Down under, Erfan attempted to maintain his title as a previous winner of our ‘Most Wildlife Sightings’ prize.

8) In India, Shunha chose 5,000 as her bib number—representing the number of trees she supported the planting of!

9) Josh indulged in blue and green scenes...

10) ...and Johana enjoyed a light show.

11) Also in the Czech Republic, Julie *swam* for the rainforest.

12) Finally, Irene Hill matched her name to the landscape in South Africa.

It’s the LAST day of our challenge—link in bio!

#Charity5K #GroupRun #Run #Virtual5K

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WHERE IS THE PROOF?

Conservation is often framed as simply letting nature take its course.

But decades of ecological research tell a more nuanced story.

Modern wildlife management exists because ecosystems have changed.

Habitat fragmentation, human development, invasive species, and altered predator-prey dynamics mean many landscapes no longer function as they once did. In these systems, management isn’t about controlling nature—it’s about restoring balance and giving vulnerable species a chance to thrive.

Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that management decisions have measurable impacts.

Whether it’s predator management, habitat restoration, population monitoring, or regulated harvest, these tools influence nesting success, species abundance, biodiversity, and the long-term health of ecosystems.

The question isn’t whether wildlife should be managed, it’s understanding the consequences of management OR no management.

That’s what the PROOF is. A series of content that outlines and highlights science to SHOW the result of the action of management or the INACTION of management.

✒️: @samuelriverafilms

#proof #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #sustainablehunting #sustainableuse

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The most difficult bridal I have ever created.
Countless hours, endless details, and more challenges than I can count but seeing it come to life made every moment worth it.

How long do you think this bridal took to make?

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PWFF 2026 was built by people who believed in the power of storytelling.

To our team, volunteers, and our incredible event host, thank you for the energy, dedication, and passion you brought to this festival. From the earliest planning stages to the final farewell, your hard work made every screening, conversation, workshop, and celebration possible.

What audiences see is only a small part of what goes into creating a festival. Behind every moment is a community of people giving their time, skills, and heart to create something meaningful.

Thank you for helping us build a space where storytellers, conservationists, filmmakers, and audiences could come together to share stories, spark conversations, and imagine better futures.

#pwff2026 wouldn't have been possible without you. ❤️

#TheHomeOfAfricanStorytellers™ #rootedinafricaresonatingglobally® #teamworkmakesthedreamwork❤️
#legacies

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Indian Pied Myna - Nature's striking masterpiece! 🐦✨

These charismatic birds are the chatterboxes of our gardens and woodlands. With their bold black-and-white contrast and vibrant orange beaks, they're impossible to miss and even harder to ignore (trust me, their calls will find you first! 😄).

Did you know? They're incredibly social birds that love hanging out in flocks, and they can even mimic sounds. A true acrobat of the skies! 🎯

#IndianPiedMyna #BirdPhotography #WildlifeLovers #NaturePhotography #BirdwatchingLife NatureIsBeautiful WildlifeOfIndia OrnithologyLovers BirdArt MotherNature

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