My life is an incredible adventure that has taken me down some very exciting and extraordinary paths. I have been fortunate to be able to follow my passions in life. This has been a challenge, and at times a difficult road, but worth it in unimaginable ways. A life with tigers and lions has been a dream of mine since I was a child. My work with the big cats eventually led me to wildlife conservation in East Africa. Currently, I am working for the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. In 1998, the sanctuary was founded by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of founding trustees. This website is an account of my journey.
I especially love photographing young elephants 🐘 This calf at Murchison Falls #Uganda 🇺🇬 has tiny little “vampire” tusks. African elephant tusks are curved forward and average around 5 to 8 feet (1.5-2.5 meters) in length and can weight around 50 to 99 pounds (23-45 kg) each. The permanent tusks of elephants first start to appear at around two years of age. Tusks are elongated incisor teeth and are made up of dentine with an outer layer of enamel. It was interesting watching this calf awkwardly swing his trunk. Young elephants learn from the adults on how to use their trunks effectively. Infants initially have little control over the use of their trunks. They must practice the complex coordination and learn to apply it to procuring food.
To learn more about my collaborative NFT project with Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, visit NFT.ChrisAustria.com. A portion of sales from the chimp NFTs goes towards the feeding and veterinary care of the orphaned great apes. You will also receive a signed print that you can frame and hang on the wall. This handsome chimp is “Eddie” and one of my favorite great apes here. Eddie was rescued from a circus. Ngamba Island is home to 52 chimpanzees that have been rescued from the illegal wildlife and bushmeat trade..To learn more about their work, visit NgambaIsland.org.
This was a beautiful moment photographing a female lion and her young cub. My travel clients and I encountered these big cats in Kidepo Valley in the Karamoja region of […]
It is a great honor for me to work for Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. We were founded in 1998 by Dr. Jane Goodall, and a group of founding trustees. The […]
Chris Austria 