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Ignacio Yúfera is a wildlife photographer whose images bring the natural world to life in a way that feels both raw and intimate. His photos take us to wild places, from open fields to dense forests, where we can see animals in their natural habitat.

But Ignacio’s work goes beyond photography. He’s also dedicated to protecting nature, working with conservation groups like the Emberiza Fund to help preserve wildlife. Through his photos and efforts, he encourages others to appreciate and care for the world around them.

More info: Instagram | iyufera.com

#1 Leopard

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

Bored Panda reached out to Ignacio Yúfera to learn more about his journey as a wildlife photographer, the challenges he faces in the field, and how his work contributes to wildlife conservation efforts. The photographer shared that he has been passionate about nature since he was a little boy, and was an avid birder and wildlife enthusiast long before he began taking photographs. “When digital photography became popular, I started doing digiscoping while birdwatching (attaching a compact digital camera to a spotting scope), and soon switched to digital DSLR looking for higher quality and the possibility of capturing action.”

#2 Pumas

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

#3 Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens)

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

Ignacio told us that he lived in Spain, France, and Canada, and has always been particularly drawn to wide open spaces such as deserts, tundras, and high mountains. “The deserts and mountains of Morocco and the Middle East will always have a special place in my memories; I made the coffee-table book ‘Birds of Morocco’, with a foreword by Morocco’s Royal Princess, to show and celebrate the birdlife of that country.

However, when I moved to Panama in 2016, I discovered the beauty and unique birds and wildlife of the Cloud Forest, and since then, I’m doing most of my photography there, as well as its lowland and coastal rainforests, leading tours and workshops with my company Tamandua Nature Tours.”

#4 Geoffroy’s Tamarin (Saguinus Geoffroyi)

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

#5 A Male Of The “Nominal” Morph Of The Red-Headed Poison-Frog (Ranitomeya Fantastica)

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

When asked about the most challenging part of capturing wildlife, Ignacio explained that, coming from Europe, the biggest challenge is getting close to the subject. “In Panama, where I now live, this is generally much less difficult, since there is little hunting and animals and birds are often less wary of humans. Working in the deep Neotropical forest, dealing with difficult light situations is often the most demanding task, something made much easier these days thanks to the high-ISO capabilities of the latest cameras.”

#6 The Angolan Colobus (Colobus Angolensis)

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

#7 L’hoest’s Monkey (Cercopithecus Lhoesti)

Image credits: ignacio_yufera

“I think these days photography plays a major part in showing many species that before were very rarely seen by the general public. Traditionally, mainstream documentaries and magazines have focused mainly on large, iconic species. Thanks to social media, many photographers working with little-known animals can reach a large audience and raise awareness about conservation issues that previously were known by just a few field specialists.”