I was captivated by seven animals from all seven continents. It would be like a kind of goose chase, from continent to continent, from Europe to North America and the continuing to South America, Antarctica, Australia, Asia and culminating in Africa. The challenge: over a years trip around the world with the aim of searching, observing and photographing these seven wild animals.

I was also attracted by the most primitive parts of the world as the Great Barrier Reef, the Antarctic ice, Patagonia, the Rocky Mountains, the mangroves of Australia, the Mekong river, the jungles of Southeast Asia, the baobabs of the Kalahari, the dunes of the Namib Desert and the Okavango Delta.

Cougar in the Patagonia mountains

The adventure began with wolves, bison, mountain lions, penguins, crocodiles, hornbills and elephants as primary objectives of this unique around the world trip. All these species are threatened by various reasons (excessive hunting, habitat destruction, illegal trade, climate change, etc.) and live in very ecologically diverse habitats. Documenting and photographing is a first step to show their situation, value their importance and enhance public awareness for the need of protecting these and other species.

The great hornbill in the jungles of Southeast Asia

But this long journey would be different. I would not be returning home before finishing the project. And at home we are four ... so from the first day Meritxell my partner and our two children, Amaia and Unai (3 and 9) joined the trip. Living on the road and combining the search for animals and family life was another challenge to be considered.

Back from the trip the memories and experiences are still as vivid: cougars on the hunt for guanacos, wolves in the Cantabrian valleys, American bison in the snow, penguins amongst icebergs, marine crocodiles at night, great hornbills in the rainforest, elephants doing in the desert ... These seven animals also shared the limelight with coyotes, armadillos, condors, eagles, Antarctic seals, whales, orcas , sea turtles, dolphins, kangaroos, cassowaries, monkeys, zebras, lions, hyenas, giraffes, leopards, hippos and rhinos.

Giraffe in the dunes of the Namib desert

Why participate in the project?

1. Support an independent project that today is possible thanks to the support of people like you.

2. Support a naturalistic environment and respectful approach that seeks to spread the need to protect nature.

3. Discover the world from a different perspective: through the eyes of a professional photographer, the eyes of a journalist and writer and the astonished eyes of a child.

Marine crocodile in the australian tropics

The book

It will be a photographic large format book with 236 pages and 150 photographs. Hardback. 23.7 x 34.2 cm. Printed using high quality paper 170 grs (FSC paper, respectful of forests).

Two differents editions, one in english and one in spanish.

The book will have the photographs ofAndoni Canela accompanied by texts with anecdotes, naturalists notes and technical explanations about how he took those pictures (cameras, lenses, camouflage techniques, how to approach the animals, etc.). There will also be the texts of Meritxell Margarit, journalist and writer, explaining the journey, the places and stories about wildlife and the everyday life on the road.

The rewards

Rewards include books and different options.

They include books, packs of postcards, fine art prints, a day's trekking in the Pyrenees, photography classes and a private dinner party.

Fine art prints may be chosen between the 150 photos that appear in the book.

Elephant at the Namib desert

Where will your money go?

The contributions will help to cover the costs of the book: design work, editing, proofing, proofreading, book printing, translation, transport etc.

When will you receive the book?


The book is in the final stages. Printing will take place in late summer. The books will be sent out in September.


Pronghorns (the fastest animal in América) running in the Great Prairie

My Work


I have published a dozen books with different publishers and hundreds of articles in magazines and newspapers such as La Vanguardia, El País, National Geographic, Geo, BBC Wildlife, Newsweek, The Sunday Times, Terra Savauge, etc.

Amongst the books, Sleeping amongst Wolves, The Cantabrian Brown Bear, The Iberian Imperial Eagle, Looking for Fochas, Aether and La Mirada Salvaje.

More information on Wikipedia and www.andonicanela.com

Links

Andoni Canela
El País: En busca de lo Salvaje
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube

The journey

One year and three months of continuous fieldwork. In total more than 100,000 km: about 63,000 km by plane, 36,000 km by road, 3,000 km by seas, rivers and lakes and a few hundred on foot, through mountains, jungles and deserts.

Throughout the journey, the project received support from Fundación Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, Fundación Biodiversidad and the Instituto Jane Goodall España. In turn, the educational program Learning in the Wild aimed at families and schools with the support of the publishing Pau Education and Creative Classrooms.

During this time, the Magazine of La Vanguardia has published a series of reports with different animals as protagonists. Quesabesde have also published a number of articles as a field trip diary.

A few more words

This will be the second book self-published by Verkami after Sleeping amongst Wolves. I think that publishing a book with the support of people who believe in a professional and personal project is the best way to carry it out. My wish is to repay your trust by publishing a book which you will enjoy and together we hope that it will make a difference to the future for these animals.

Thank you for your support!.

Unai walking in the Australian mangrooves

Amaia and Meritxell by a river in the American Rocky Mountains

American bison in the Yellowstone geysers