Animal Stories — Heartfelt Stories Photography Blog

Switching Gear

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.

Yousuf Karsh

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnOctober 30, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British Columbia Comments

Skunked in Bear Country

Skunked: a fishing trip where no fish were caught. Not one bear sighting. What if the salmon never showed up?

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnOctober 23, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British ColumbiaComment

Notes from Bear Camp #4

The ends of the hairs on grizzly bears’ flanks, backs and shoulders often have white tips and give the bears a “grizzled” appearance, hence the species’ name.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnOctober 16, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British ColumbiaComment

We Stop for Bears - Notes from Bear Camp #3

Grizzlies are great swimmers. They are also fast, they can sprint faster than 55 kph. Take note - a grizzly will easily outrun, outclimb, and outswim you - so don’t swim with bears!

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnOctober 9, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British ColumbiaComment

Bear Watching (continued from last week)

Indigenous people have co-existed with bears for thousands of years. At the core the bear represents courage and strength. The bear is seen as protector and healer.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnOctober 2, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British Columbia Comments

Day Two: Notes from Bear Camp (continued from last week)

Dawson turned off the motor and we drifted closer. No doubt about it, the bear knew we were there. He slipped into the water, raised his head as if to say hello, then proceeded about his business of looking for fish. We followed along at a respectful distance.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, Animal Stories, climate changeKathy KarnSeptember 25, 2024Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, stories, grizzly bears, British ColumbiaComment

How the Samburu Became the Ancestors of Elephants.

Reposted from July 2023.

The pastoralist Samburu people of Northern Kenya believe elephants were once people. Their oral tradition tells the story of how they became the ancestors of the elephant.

Day 2: Black Bear Adventure

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

Africa, African Wildlife, Animal Stories, conservation, Wildlife PhotographyKathy KarnJuly 10, 2024African wildlife, Storytelling, on safari, conservation, climate change, natureComment

Black Bear Adventure

‘There’s one!” I called out. “Good spotting!” said our guide Kyler, as he spun the boat around as confirming the humped black form at the edge of the shore was a black bear. The thrill of seeing a large mammal in its natural habitat never gets old for me.

Africa, African Wildlife, Animal Stories, conservation, Wildlife PhotographyKathy KarnJuly 3, 2024African wildlife, Storytelling, on safari, conservation, climate change, nature Comments

CAPA Digital Salon 2024 Awards

I am thrilled to learn that four of my images have been accepted into the 2024 Canadian Association for Photographic Art Digital Salon Competition!

Africa, African Wildlife, Animal Stories, conservation, Wildlife PhotographyKathy KarnJune 26, 2024African wildlife, Storytelling, on safari, conservation, climate change, nature Comments

The Bear Who Came for Breakfast

“I’m not a criminal,” said Paddington, hotly. “I’m a bear!”

Africa, African Wildlife, Animal Stories, conservation, Wildlife PhotographyKathy KarnJune 19, 2024African wildlife, Storytelling, on safari, conservation, climate change, nature Comments

We Stop for Ormoilaa Ogol The Strong One

Nature has a throng of four-legged and six- legged farmers planting, fertilizing, harvesting and rotating crops.

Africa, African Wildlife, Animal Stories, conservation, Wildlife PhotographyKathy KarnJune 12, 2024African wildlife, Storytelling, on safari, conservation, climate change, natureComment

What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

There is something special about close contact with one’s food source. Caring for the chickens and enjoying the delicious reward of farm fresh eggs is a very different experience from reaching into the cooler at the grocery store.