Travel The World With Mary Korff

Step into the wild and see nature like never before.

The Gallery

Travel The World With Mary Korff

Step into the wild and see nature like never before.

The Gallery

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About Mary

From the quiet rustle of leaves to the mighty roar of a distant lion, nature speaks to those who listen. For Mary Korff, this connection runs deep. Her journey as a wildlife photographer is more than a profession—it’s a calling.

With every photograph, Mary seeks to capture the world's untamed beauty, sharing moments that inspire awe, wonder, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

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Wildlife Conservation & Facts

As Mary travels around the world, she encounters animals that people may not see often or at all in their lifetime. Learn more about some of her favorite animals and how their conservation efforts are going.

American Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle: A Symbol of Freedom

The American bald eagle, with its striking white-feathered head, yellow beak, and powerful build, stands as the national bird of the U.S.A.

This majestic creature has long represented strength and freedom, making it an iconic symbol in American culture. Its image is prominently featured on government seals, currency, and emblems, cementing its status as a beloved national treasure.

The bird’s imposing presence and determined gaze make it a fitting representation of perseverance and independence.

Habitat and Hunting: Life of a Bald Eagle

Primarily found in North America, bald eagles thrive near large bodies of open water, where they hunt fish, their main source of food. Their sharp talons and incredible vision make them highly skilled hunters, capable of spotting prey from great distances.

In addition to fish, they occasionally feed on small mammals and birds, showcasing their adaptability. Their nests, called aeries, are among the largest of any bird species and are often reused and expanded each breeding season.

From Endangered to Resilient: The Bald Eagle’s Comeback

Decades ago, habitat loss, hunting, and pesticide use brought the bald eagle to the brink of extinction. The widespread use of DDT, a harmful pesticide, was particularly devastating, causing eggshells to thin and reducing successful hatchings.

Conservation measures, including the banning of DDT and the implementation of breeding programs, played a vital role in their recovery.

By 2007, their numbers had rebounded enough to be removed from the endangered species list, a testament to the power of focused environmental efforts.

Protecting the Future of the Bald Eagle

Although their numbers have rebounded, bald eagles remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. This legislation prohibits harming or disturbing these birds and their nests, ensuring they can continue to thrive.

Ongoing habitat preservation and public education remain crucial to their survival. By supporting conservation initiatives, we can ensure that future generations experience the awe of seeing a bald eagle soar freely through the skies.

American Bald Eagle

Barbary Lioness

The Barbary Lion: King of North Africa

The Barbary lion, also known as the Atlas lion, once dominated the forests and mountains of North Africa, from Morocco to Egypt.

Renowned for its immense size and thick, dark mane that extended along its belly, this subspecies was one of the most striking and powerful lions to ever exist.

The lion’s regal appearance and dominance over its territory made it a symbol of strength and majesty in North African cultures, appearing in local folklore and ancient art.

Adapted to a Unique Habitat

Unlike most African lions that inhabit savannas, the Barbary lion thrived in the cooler, mountainous regions of North Africa. Its dense mane likely helped it endure colder climates, adding to its striking and distinctive look.

This adaptation enabled it to hunt and survive in rugged terrain, preying on large animals such as deer and wild boar. Its ability to adapt to these conditions set it apart as a remarkable predator in its ecosystem.

Extinction in the Wild: A Tragic Loss

Tragically, the Barbary lion was driven to extinction in the wild by the early 20th century. Overhunting, habitat destruction, and capture for Roman gladiatorial games devastated their populations.

These majestic lions, once feared and revered, became victims of human exploitation and environmental neglect. Their disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preserving wildlife and the consequences of unchecked human activity.

Reviving a Legacy Through Conservation

Efforts to revive the Barbary lion’s legacy are underway, with a small number of descendants believed to share its genetic lineage bred in captivity. Conservationists hope to preserve the genetic traits of these lions, ensuring that their legacy lives on as a symbol of North African wildlife.

While reintroducing them to the wild remains a challenge, these efforts reflect humanity’s dedication to correcting past mistakes and protecting biodiversity for future generations.

Barbary Lioness

African Elephant

The African Elephant: Earth’s Largest Land Animal

The African elephant, towering as the largest land animal on Earth, is a marvel of nature. Known for its immense size and distinctive large ears, which help dissipate heat, this gentle giant is an iconic symbol of Africa’s wildlife.

Male elephants can reach heights of up to 13 feet and weigh as much as 14,000 pounds, making their presence truly awe-inspiring. Their remarkable intelligence and deep familial bonds highlight the complexity of these incredible creatures.

A Versatile Survivor in Diverse Habitats

African elephants thrive in a wide range of environments, from the savannas and grasslands to dense forests of sub-Saharan Africa. Their trunks, highly sensitive and versatile, serve as a vital tool for survival, used for drinking, feeding, and even communication.

By consuming large amounts of vegetation, elephants help shape their ecosystems, creating pathways and clearing areas that support biodiversity and allow other species to thrive.

Challenges in a Changing World

Despite their importance, African elephants face significant threats from habitat loss and poaching for their ivory tusks.

Forest elephants, a subspecies, are particularly vulnerable due to their elusive nature and slower reproductive rates.

The demand for ivory has driven relentless poaching, decimating populations and pushing these majestic animals toward extinction. Their plight is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of human activity on wildlife.

Conservation: Protecting the Gentle Giants

Global conservation efforts are underway to protect African elephants, with international laws and organizations working to curb poaching and habitat destruction. These efforts include anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and raising awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation.

While their numbers remain in decline, ongoing initiatives offer hope for the survival of this keystone species, ensuring that African elephants continue to roam the landscapes they have shaped for millennia.

African Elephant

Burrowing Owls

The Burrowing Owl: A Ground-Dwelling Raptor

The burrowing owl, a small yet fascinating bird of prey, is known for its unusual choice to nest underground rather than in trees.

Found across North and South America, these owls have adapted to live in open landscapes like grasslands, deserts, and prairies. Their unique behavior, combined with their small size and striking yellow eyes, makes them one of the most distinctive and charismatic owls in the world.

Habitat and Daily Life in the Wild

Rather than digging their own homes, burrowing owls often inhabit abandoned burrows made by animals like prairie dogs or ground squirrels.

Unlike many owl species, they are active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, hunting for insects, small mammals, and even reptiles. Their ability to thrive in such diverse conditions highlights their adaptability and resourcefulness.

Challenges Facing the Burrowing Owl

Despite their adaptability, burrowing owls face increasing threats from habitat destruction and the decline of burrowing mammals, which provide their nesting sites.

As grasslands are converted to agricultural or urban land, their homes and hunting grounds disappear. Although they are not currently endangered, their declining population has placed them on the list of species of conservation concern, underscoring the need for protective measures.

Preserving the Grassland Ecosystem

Conservation efforts to protect the burrowing owl focus on preserving their habitats and the populations of burrowing mammals they depend on.

Programs to restore grasslands and establish protected areas are crucial to ensuring their survival. By safeguarding this species, we also support the balance of grassland ecosystems, highlighting the importance of collective action in wildlife conservation.

Burrowing Owl