The Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018 competition has opened for entries. We’re calling on bloggers from around the world to put their favourite wildlife moment into the spotlight, in 800 words or fewer. Sponsored by SWAROVSKI OPTIK, organised by Terra Incognita and with prizes from Conservation Careers, the competition aims to celebrate storytelling for positive change, and has an impressive list of prizes and star judges.

“We’re seeking stories that raise awareness about our planet’s incredible wildlife and explore people’s connection with nature through travel”, said Dr Nick Askew, co-founder of Terra Incognita.

As a social enterprise Terra Incognita believes that ethical ecotourism, combined with the power of blogging, can be a real force for good in the world. “Bloggers are some of the greatest storytellers of our time, and we want to create opportunities for bloggers to be recognised and rewarded for their talent through support, encouragement and publicity”, said Nick.

The Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018 competition will award a two winners – one chosen by a star panel of judges and another as voted for by the public. There will also be runners up prizes and benefits for anyone who enters.

Winners will each receive a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK CL Companion 10×30 binoculars (value £930), plus wide-scale promotion and recognition for their blog. Winning entries will be published on some of the biggest wildlife blogs online, including Mark Avery and Conservation Careers. Winning bloggers will also have the opportunity to be interviewed for two popular wildlife podcasts – Conservation Careers Podcast and the Wild Voices Project. Winner will also receive a membership to Conservation Careers, its online Conservation Career Kickstarter course and career coaching (value £199).

All entrants will be offered benefits as part of the Terra Incognita Eco-Blogger Network, a global community of storytellers and influencers, including their profile featured on Terra Incognita and opportunities for published work and promotion to increase their profile.

“Blogging engages everyone from scientists and activists to concerned citizens and youth in important issues like wildlife conservation, across cultures and continents”, said Kristi Foster, co-founder of Terra Incognita. “Let’s celebrate great storytelling by passionate people who will continue to educate and inspire us – sparking conversations that lead to positive change”.

Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018 judge panel includes:

Dr Mark Avery

Mark has been called Britain’s premier wildlife blogger. He worked for the RSPB for 25 years – and spent 13 years as their Conservation Director. Mark’s knowledge about nature conservation in the UK is without par, and he cares deeply about the sustainability of wildlife in the modern world. markavery.info

James Lowen

James is an award-winning travel and nature writer who has penned 10 books (the most recent of which is 52 European Wildlife Weekends) and numerous magazine articles. He blogs about the wildlife he encounters on his travels. www.jameslowen.com

Lucy McRobert

Lucy is a popular nature writer, environmental journalist and Communications Manager for The Wildlife Trusts. She is a runner-up in the BBC Wildlife magazine ‘Nature Writer of the Year’ and is a columnist in the popular Birdwatch magazine. She has written and presented wildly about wildlife issues.

Ed Drewitt

Ed is a professional naturalist, wildlife detective, and broadcaster for the BBC. He has been studying urban Peregrines for over 15 years, and specialises in colour ringing their chicks, and identifying what they have been eating. eddrewitt.co.uk

Matt Adam Williams

Matt Williams is a nature writer, wildlife photographer and presenter of the Wild Voices Project podcast. He has written for publications including BBC Wildlife Magazine, Birdwatching magazine and the Summer anthology of nature writing. You can find out more about him @mattadamw and mattadamwilliams.co.uk, or find his podcast at wildvoicesproject.org.

Dr James Borrell

James is a well-known conservation blogger. He is based at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and runs his popular blog with the aim of sharing a more optimistic outlook on conservation and to encourage the next generation of young field scientists. He has written for a wide range of media outlets, websites and magazines. jamesborrell.com

Dr Kate Rawles

Kate is an outdoor philosopher, writer, lecturer and environmental campaigner. She is the author of The Carbon Cycle, based on a cycling trip from Texas to Alaska exploring North American’s responses to climate change. For her latest project, The Life Cycle, Kate cycled from Colombia to Cape Horn on a bamboo bicycle to raise awareness and inspire positive action on biodiversity loss.  outdoorphilosophy.co.uk

Marta Calix

Marta is a co-founder of the popular blog The Conservation Hub, and is a wildlife conservation biologist based in Belgium interested in the linkages between business and biodiversity. She has written widely about her passion for the natural world. theconservationhub.com

Hendrikus van Hensbergen

Hendrikus is the Founder and CEO of Action for Conservation, a young environmental charity with a mission to bring the magic of nature into young people’s lives and inspire a youth movement committed to conservation and the earth. actionforconservation.org

Eilidh Munro

Eilidh is a wildlife and conservation filmmaker and one of the Scientific Exploration Society’s 2018 explorers, as the recipient of the SES Neville Shulman Film Award 2018. She recently filmed rarely-seen spider monkey behaviour in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, and her upcoming project will be a documentary about an illegal road being built through the Peruvian Amazon. munrorambling.com 

Justin Lennon

Justin is CEO of Conservation Guide and a marine biologist with 10 years’ experience working in conservation. His experiences in environmental research and practical conservation field work globally led him to the creation of Conservation Guide. conservationguide.org

Daisy Ouya

For over 15 years Daisy has worked as a science writer, editor, publisher and communications specialist. Her work experience spans communications in entomology, marine science, agriculture, agroforestry, and human health including HIV/AIDS. She is a board-certified Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS). daisyouya.com 

Kristi Foster

Kristi is passionate about communicating ecotourism, conservation and sustainability, something she’s done with Ecotourism Australia, Fauna & Flora International (UK) and the World Agroforestry Centre (Kenya). Most recently she had the opportunity to coordinate a project demonstrating how rainforest regeneration can conserve biodiversity and enhance local livelihoods in Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru. She’s a co-founder of Terra Incognita. terra-incognita.travel

Dr Nick Askew

Nick is a digital ecopreneur. He loves building online businesses which help people and the planet. He’s the Director of Conservation Careers and Ecology Jobs, former Director of British Birds, and worked as Communications, Marketing and Fundraising Managers for BirdLife International, both in the UK and Pacific (Fiji). He’s a co-founder of Terra Incognita.

HOW TO ENTER?

The Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018 competition is open to anyone – amateur or professional – who runs a blog or website. Stories must be original (unpublished) and are limited to one entry per person.

To enter, simply submit a short story about your favourite wildlife moment (in 800 words or fewer).

Please visit the competition page for full details of the competition and how to submit your entry.

The deadline for entries is Midnight on 30 November 2018, and the winners will be announced on 31st December 2018. If you have any questions or problems, please email hello@terra-incognita.travel.

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