AN AWARD-WINNING wildlife filmmaker and photographer has teamed up with West Midlands Safari Park which challenges people to get creative, writes Erica Murphy-Hogg.
Gordon Buchanan, known as Scotland’s own David Attenbrough, is inviting animal lovers to post their best picture of the African lions and Sumatran tigers from West Midlands Safari Park on social media. Those who take part will be putting themselves in the frame to win a generous prize.
The lucky winners will receive four tickets to attend the live show at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday, January 18, as well as a family day ticket to the West Midlands Safari Park, once Gordon has decided his favourite photo.
Participants must remember to tag Mr Buchanan’s page @gordonbuchanan_wildlife on their post and to use the hashtag #lionsandtigersandbears to ensure their entry is properly submitted.
Mr Buchanan might even share the winning pictures on his stories, acting as a greater incentive for people to get involved.
When the competition initially launched, Mr Buchanan expressed his gratitude for the professional opportunities he had been given.
He said: “I am so fortunate to be able to spend my time observing, filming and photographing these amazing icons of the animal kingdom.”
He added the animals he followed were ‘fascinating creatures’ and acknowledged the mutual pleasure he and his followers got from their interactions with these different species.
Mr Buchanan said he was really looking forward to judging people’s pictures.
His interest in large mammals began in 1989 when he travelled to Sierra Leone to document animals in the Gola Rainforest as an assistant to the renowned cameraman of Survival, Nick Gordon.
Since then, Mr Buchanan has worked on BBC series: ‘Big Cat Diary’ and ‘Lost Land Of The Tiger’ (to name a few), demonstrating his long-standing fascination of nature’s wildest creatures.
Most recently, Mr Buchanan received a MBE in 2020 New Year’s Honours for his dedication to conservation and wildlife filmmaking, as he has now dedicated more than 30 years to working both behind and in front of the camera to document the beauties of the natural world.
Upcoming works of Mr Buchanan’s include the latest edition of the BBC series, ‘Big Cats 24/7’, which follow him around Botswana tracking lions, leopards and cheetahs.
The series is expected to be aired in the next few months.
Due to his tour’s success in 2025, with back-to-back sell-outs, Mr Buchanan is hoping for a similar demand this time around.
The competition provides a unique opportunity for nature enthusiasts to see, for free, a sought-after, wildlife legend recounting his experiences and to visit some of the animals in question.
The deadline for submissions is next Friday, January 16.
Visit: gordon-buchanan.co.uk/competition/ for more on the contest and go to: gordon-buchanan.co.uk to buy tickets to the tour.
