For the first time in New Zealand, National Geographic's most iconic wildlife photographs are being showcased in an extraordinary outdoor exhibition at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park. The groundbreaking display features more than 70 stunning images captured by some of the world's most renowned wildlife photographers, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience these magical moments from the animal kingdom alongside the real-life species that inspired them.
The exhibition, which opened on Tuesday and runs until April 30, presents a unique fusion of wildlife photography and live animal encounters. "I have been blown away by the photographs and the stories behind each of them. It's a unique opportunity to celebrate nature's beauty and the untamed spirit of life on Earth," said Rachel Haydon, Orana Wildlife Park's chief executive. The outdoor setting makes this exhibition particularly special, as visitors can view these masterpieces while surrounded by the natural environment of New Zealand's only open-range zoo.
Curated by National Geographic picture editor Kathy Moran, the exhibition showcases works by the magazine's finest photographers, including Michael Nick Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert, and David Doubilet. The collection spans decades of wildlife photography excellence, featuring remarkable images such as Brian Skerry's Southern Right Whale photographed off the Auckland Islands in 2007, Thomas P. Peschak's gray whale captured in San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico in 2015, and Cristina Mittermeier's crabeater seals on the Antarctic Peninsula in 2017.
The images provide a comprehensive look at the evolution of wildlife photography, demonstrating how technological innovations like camera traps, remote imaging, and underwater photography equipment have revolutionized the field. These advances have given photographers unprecedented access to animals in their natural habitats, resulting in intimate portraits that were previously impossible to capture. Notable examples include Prasenjeet Yadav's snow leopard caught on camera in India's Spiti Valley in 2020 and Paul Nicklen's flying penguins photographed in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, in 2011.
National Geographic has been at the forefront of wildlife documentation for 115 years, creating a legacy of images that masterfully combine artistry, scientific insight, and technical innovation. The organization's journey began with its first published wildlife photograph of a reindeer in 1903 and has evolved to include today's pioneering shots that continue to push the boundaries of wildlife photography. The exhibition features diverse subjects from around the globe, including Michael Nichols' Vumbi Pride in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park in 2011, Christian Ziegler's cassowary in northeast Queensland in 2012, and Charlie Hamilton James' birds at a waterhole in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park in 2018.
The exhibition also showcases the global reach of National Geographic's photographers, with images spanning from Trevor Frost's geladas in Ethiopia's Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area in 2015 to Paul Nicklen's Spirit Bear photographed at Gribbell Island Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada, in 2010. Other notable works include Randy Olson's Sandhill Cranes on Nebraska's Platte River in 2016, Joel Sartore's gray wolves in Ely, Minnesota in 1997, and Evgenia Arbugaeva's walruses in Enurmino, Russia, in 2019.
Orana Wildlife Park provides an ideal setting for this exhibition, as New Zealand's only open-range zoo houses more than 1,000 animals representing over 90 species, including the country's only gorillas. The park has grown significantly since opening in September 1976 with just 28 animals, expanding to include giraffes, cheetahs, and New Zealand's first rhino calf born in 1999. The Great Ape Centre, which opened in 2015, brought the country's only gorillas to Christchurch and represents a major milestone in the park's development.
The Greatest Wildlife Photographs exhibition is organized and toured by the National Geographic Society, with admission included in standard park entry fees. As Orana Wildlife Park prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, this world-class photography exhibition adds another significant chapter to the park's history of wildlife conservation and education. The exhibition features additional remarkable works including Amy Vitale's giant panda in China's Wolong Nature Reserve in 2015 and David Doubilet's sea lions on Hopkins Island, Australia, captured in 1984, further demonstrating the breadth and excellence of National Geographic's wildlife photography legacy.
