Meet the adventurers

Documentarians Dereck and Beverly Joubert

How has Africa’s wildlife — and the conversations around conservation — changed during the course of your careers?

BEVERLY: Africa has lost about 95% of its wildlife since the 1970s — it’s alarming. There used to be around 450,000 lions; now numbers have fallen below 20,000. Leopards have gone from 700,000 to fewer than 50,000. Cheetahs have plummeted to 7,000. Hopefully, by watching our films — like Jade Eyed Leopard — audiences will be encouraged to help protect them.

DERECK: Our voices are bigger now. Go back 30 or 40 years and we were just talking to a small circle of friends and scientists about this. But today, with the connectivity of the online world, more people know what we’re doing — and more people support us.

What’s the most pressing issue faced by Africa’s big cats?

DERECK: As we approach what’s probably the apex of the Covid-19 pandemic, a second pandemic is emerging: a huge wave of poaching. Some people, facing destitution, are forced to support themselves in this way. Really, the issue is poverty. Tourism, which was a massive $50bn (£36bn) revenue stream into Africa, has suddenly gone. And, of course, there have been cutbacks in ranging staff. This is why we started Project Ranger, with the help of National Geographic, to keep rangers in the field. Long term, we have to work on elevating peoples’ livelihoods to eradicate poverty.

Could you tell us a bit more about your Big Cats Initiative, and why it’s important?

BEVERLY: We started it in 2009 as an emergency intervention at a community level, much like what we’re doing now with Project Ranger. One aim is to help locals understand that live big cats are an investment in their future, as is protecting the environment. We’re working with them to practise better husbandry, too, to prevent them losing a cow to lions or leopards. So really, the initiative is teaching people how to live with big cats. We now have around 150 projects in 27 countries.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to see Africa’s big cats?

DERECK: You should definitely come. Africa needs the dollars. Conservation does. Communities do. We’re associated with a company called Great Plains Conservation, where one third of the revenue goes to conservation, one third towards growing the conservation footprint and one third goes to communities. For me, that’s the ideal combination.

Where’s the best place for a responsible big cat safari?

BEVERLY: I’d recommend Duba Plains Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where we’ve shot a few films, including The Last Lions (2011). Mara Plains Camp in Kenya is phenomenal too, and Mara Nyika Camp, our base for filming Jade Eyed Leopard. It’s a unique area because of the abundance of rainfall; there’s a lot of wildlife, and a lot of prey that attracts the predators. Botswana’s Selinda Reserve is an excellent spot as well.

You filmed Jade Eyed Leopard over three years. What was your most exciting moment?

DERECK: Using thermal imagery to see a leopard bring down a big Grant’s gazelle was thrilling. But our main takeaway was seeing that these creatures have personality. Getting up close to Toto, the little leopard, finding her underneath the deck of the tent, and observing her interactions with her mother, Fig. Witnessing that relationship was the real highlight.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest change we all need to make right now to help the planet?

DERECK: We need to renew our vows with nature. INTERVIEW: NORA WALLAYA

Dereck and Beverly Joubert are award-winning filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and wildlife conservationists.

wildlifefilms.co greatplainsfoundation.com/ranger nationalgeographic.org/projects/big-cats-initiative @beverlyjoubert @dereckjoubert