Joachim Schmeisser - LAST OF THEIR KIND

A moving homage to the unique beauty of Africa's endangered wildlife

We are currently experiencing the sixth major species extinction in history - every day about 150 species disappear forever from this planet. This unprecedented loss of biodiversity is even more threatening than climate change, because biodiversity is the basis of our existence - without it we cannot survive. Against this background, Joachim Schmeisser has dedicated his second book, "The Last of Their Kind", to some of Africa's largest and most fascinating creatures, which have grown particularly close to his heart over the many years of his work: Elephant, rhino, giraffe, lion, cheetah, leopard and mountain gorilla - all fascinating creatures and all threatened with extinction.

His portraits give us extremely intimate insights into the beauty of creation and its transience. "The Last of Their Kind" is both a homage and a reminder - a visually breathtaking work, characterised by great empathy, with the aim of sharpening our clouded view of the one, infinitely complex and vulnerable nature and recognising which treasures we can irretrievably lose. The timelessly beautiful photographs are, on the one hand, testimonies of a distant past and, on the other, iconic reminders of a near future in which we will only be able to admire these majestic creatures in pictures or in a few zoos.