Rob and I always said 2025 would be a quiet year as we restructured to make the charity stronger and more transparent , and to find a proper direction for our responsible travel programme, at the heart of Explorers Against Extinction.
As we roll into 2026 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), with our new UK Registered Charity No. 1212387, it feels good to have achieved a milestone. The CIO replaces the Charitable Trust.
Whether or not it’s been a quiet year is up for debate…
Here’s a light-hearted look at some of the standout moments.
January – The Longest Journey
Explorers’ beanies reached Antarctica.
Our friend Shaun (also known as Shaun the Builder) sent photos from Deception Island, where he was helping restore historic buildings. A reminder that conservation comes in many forms. Our beanies and bobbles get about, but this is the first time we’ve seen any in Antarctica.
February – Catching Up With the Wildebeest
February followed the rhythm of nature in Tanzania. Time in the bush for me at a low-impact seasonal mobile camp with brilliant local guides reinforced why responsible tourism matters more than ever.
Our travel programme is just one way you can support our work at no additional cost to you.
March – End-of-Year Giving
We closed the financial year with three small but meaningful grants:
- a grassroots programme in Rwanda helping communities living alongside mountain gorillas improve food security through sustainable organic farming
- the Community Scout Programme run by Grevy’s Zebra Trust in northern Kenya
- reforestation work in Indonesian Borneo with the Orangutan Foundation
April – Tigers, Temples and Travel Agents
Rob & I returned to India for a a full-on fortnight with three main goals. To:
- attend a responsible tourism conference in Delhi;
- explore Amangarh Tiger Reserve, and meet partners so we could submit a project partnership report;
- visit established tiger reserves in Central India.
And then there was Rob’s video taken at the ranger station where we stayed inside Amangarh Tiger Reserve…
“It was like sleeping in a crisp packet.”
Robert Ferguson
May – Planning for a Big Birthday
Planning began in earnest for Sketch for Survival’s 10th anniversary in 2026.
The Big Elephant Auction was born as a way to honour the art initiative’s roots, and “Jumbo June” took its first steps onto the calendar.
June – I Am the Walrus (and Top Dog)
A special holiday to Svalbard for the White family delivered an Arctic epic: walrus, minke whales, reindeer, spectacular scenery, multiple polar bear sightings, and even a polar dip.
Meanwhile, clients returning from Zambia shared a wild dog clip from South Luangwa with us, which went on to reach more than 1.3 million views on our safari social Real Africa.
And also in June, we announced a new partnership for Real World Conservation to represent and support Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s mission and activities in the United Kingdom, enhancing awareness, fundraising, and engagement in support of giraffe conservation.
July – Highs & Lows
We were sky-high when Sarah Ogston-Bernard skydived for her 60th, raising over £2,000 for Explorers Against Extinction…
…and then came a sobering low as guide Nick Kleer exposed unacceptable scenes from the Serengeti. A reminder that progress is fragile and advocacy still matters.
August – Decisions, Decisions
After sorting thousands of Sketch for Survival entries, our judges gathered in Brighton for the final selection days. The standard was exceptional. Choosing the final 100 was no small task. We had a couple of new nationalities take part in the competitions in 2025 taking our country participation tally to 119.
Back in the office, Rob and I were busy report-writing as part of our contribution to a steering group for Kangchenjunga’s UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve application. Biosphere status recognises landscapes where conservation, culture and sustainable development work hand-in-hand – and it has the potential to bring long-term benefits to both wildlife and the communities who live alongside it. Supporting Nepal’s mission for a first World Biosphere Reserve is exactly the kind of partnership work we’re proud to champion through Real World Conservation.
September – Miles, Mountains & Results
It was Rob’s turn for a holiday! Rob and wife Fiona travelled to Bhutan, meeting tiger conservation specialist Dr Tshering Tempa, hugging a tsenden (Himalayan cypress), spotting a takin, and climbing to Tiger’s Nest along the way.
Back home, Results Day for Sketch for Survival arrived – a milestone for artists and supporters alike – and our Vitality 10k runners laced up for wildlife. Thank you, team.
October – Films, Frames & First Pink-Foots
A full month, including:
the launch of Act Now, our short film created with the help of Nick Stone and AI – narrated in separate versions by Sir Stephen Fry and Dame Joanna Lumley – alongside framing days, the Explorers Autumn Dinner, and the opening of our exhibition at Nature in Art.
Above Norfolk, the first pink-footed geese appeared – autumn signalling its return.
November – OXO & The Big Finish
November brought the culmination of so much work: our exhibition at London’s Oxo Gallery, and the climax of the fundraising auction.
Praying for Kelp by Louise Hancox achieved a record hammer price of £5,500 – the highest Sketch for Survival 100 sale to date. The final auction hammer total was £48,000 – not bad for ‘a quiet year.’
December – Reflection & Gratitude
December is a time to take stock, tidy loose ends, acknowledge what worked, and learn from what didn’t, as we prepare for the year ahead. Progress is rarely linear.
The Bigger Stage – Reasons to Be Hopeful
2025 also brought important global milestones that give context to our work and the broader conservation landscape:
- The United Nations recognised Indigenous Peoples not only for their rights, but as essential leaders and stewards in climate, biodiversity, ocean and ecosystem governance, grounding international policy in traditional knowledge and partnership.
- India announced a new tiger reserve and celebrated supporting around 75% of the world’s remaining wild tigers – roughly 3,600 animals, more than double the number a little over a decade ago.
- Green sea turtles, after decades of protection and community-led conservation, moved from Endangered to Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
- Giant river otters returned to Argentina’s Iberá wetlands after more than 40 years.
- The High Seas Treaty continued its journey toward full ratification, a historic step toward protecting 30% of the world’s oceans.
- And globally, renewables overtook fossil fuels as the leading source of electricity.
These milestones are reminders that long-term commitment, collaboration and science-based action can move the needle.
Voices Who Inspire Us
This year we said goodbye to two towering figures in conservation whose legacies will continue to guide us:
Dr Jane Goodall taught generations to see the natural world with empathy and respect, reminding us that every individual matters and every action counts. Her pioneering work with chimpanzees and her lifetime of advocacy showed that science and compassion can change minds and policies alike.
Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton dedicated his life to understanding and protecting elephants. His work helped shape modern approaches to elephant conservation and brought vital attention to the threats these animals face. His influence on protection strategies, policy and public understanding will resonate for decades.
Their work, grounded in science, community and unwavering commitment, echoes in the stories we share, the fieldwork we support, and the change we pursue.
Thank You
With so much suffering going on in the world around us, it has been a challenging year to remain positive.
There is great strength in connection and community, and we are thankful for the tide of support that has come our way in 2025.
Let’s stick together to achieve even more in 2026.
Happy New Year to you all.
