Abd Alati Miftah ElSowayeb wildlife photographer and conservationist in Libya – Libya, a North African nation with a rich cultural heritage, is a land of remarkable natural diversity. Spanning from the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the vast, sun-baked deserts of the Sahara, Libya’s landscapes are home to a wealth of wildlife that remains largely undiscovered by the outside world. Despite the challenges Libya has faced in recent years, a growing movement of conservation-minded individuals, like wildlife photographer and activist Abd Alati Miftah ElSowayeb, who is a native of Misrata, Libya, whose dual roles as a wildlife photographer and a champion of environmental protection have become intrinsically linked. ElSowayeb’s journey, rooted in a deep appreciation for his country’s ecological diversity, has taken him from the halls of academia to the frontlines of conservation, armed with a camera that serves as a window into the remarkable, yet fragile, natural world of Libya.
Through his lens, ElSowayeb captures the essence of Libya’s wildlife, from the majestic birds that grace its wetlands to the elusive predators that roam its vast deserts. His photographs not only showcase the beauty of these species but also serve as powerful tools in his efforts to raise awareness and advocate for their protection. As the president of the Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature, ElSowayeb’s work extends beyond the frame, actively shaping the policies and initiatives that protect Libya’s precious ecosystems.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Abd Alati Miftah ElSowayeb (Hareth Misrata) from Libya. I was born in 1986 in the city of Misrata in northwestern Libya, which is 187 km east of the capital Tripoli. I completed my university studies at the Faculty of Science, University of Misrata, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Zoology in 2010.
In 2016, I started working at the Ministry of Environment and held the position of head of the Nature Conservation Department at the Misrata branch of the Ministry of Environment. In 2019, I co-founded the Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature, and I currently serve as the president of its board.
What initially inspired you to take up wildlife photography, particularly in Libya?
That was in 2019 when I was invited by the Libyan Society for Birds to participate in the winter census of waterbirds in Libya and to attend a training program on birds in Tunisia, recommended by Dr. Khaled Etayeb, the president of the Libyan Society for Birds. The participants were from several Arab countries: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. They had a great interest in documenting wildlife, and that’s when I asked myself: Why is there not such great interest in Libya? … And from there came the desire to document birds in particular and wildlife in Libya in general.
Can you recall the first time you photographed wildlife? How did that experience shape your path?
The first time I photographed wildlife was in 2019 after returning from the bird training in Tunisia. I did not have a camera of my own at the time, so I borrowed a Samsung NX20 Digital camera from a friend. The first outing was to one of the waterfowl sites in Misrata, to test what I had learned from my first participation in the winter census of waterbirds in Libya and the training in Tunisia. I was unsure at first, but I would send the photos to Dr. Khaled Etayeb, who was instrumental, after Allah, in teaching me a lot.
I would observe the birds, identify them, and take notes. When I returned home, I would review the photos I had taken and the notes I had made. Sometimes, when I examined the photos closely, I found that I had made a mistake in identifying the bird. This was not just a photo for me, but a reference to verify the data I had recorded. Perhaps I had captured something worth paying attention to, and this gave the photo another importance and another motivation to continue in this direction.
You mentioned that wildlife documentation in Libya doesn’t receive much attention. What are some of the specific challenges you’ve faced in bringing attention to this art in your country?
Well, we all know the conditions that people in Libya have been living in during the recent years of war and poor living conditions, and perhaps the most difficult thing is to try to draw the attention of people living in difficult circumstances and tell them, let me share with you some photos and scenes of wildlife, even those who have filming equipment have directed it towards filming social events and others to make money to improve their living conditions, and this will not bring them the photos of wildlife in Libya. In many African countries that were living in the chaos of armed conflicts and poverty, wildlife, and interest in it were in a bad state, whether from governments or societies whose main concern is to secure livelihoods. Nevertheless, I see that interest in these topics, i.e. documenting wildlife and nature, has been increasing due to its close connection to the concept of ecotourism, which has become the focus of attention for many countries, but we just need to present this art through channels that are more in touch with the community and in a more vibrant way.
What motivates you to continue photographing wildlife despite the lack of recognition for it in Libya?
Previously, I mentioned that documenting wildlife is also intertwined with another goal and purpose, which is science, and before being a photographer, I was and still am a student seeking to develop my knowledge of wildlife in my country. This matter is weighed down, as the weaker the scale, the stronger the opposite scale becomes. It is wonderful that wildlife has given me a friend on this long journey, he is my friend Khaled Alratab from my hometown of Misurata, and he shares the same interest in wildlife. Also, and most importantly, I am convinced that what I am doing is a collection of a natural heritage that will see the light of day one day and will receive more attention, whether I witness it or not, as it is enough for me to be a contributor to making that, even if it is a small thing.
What message or feeling do you aim to convey to Libyans and the world through your photographs?
The message I aim to convey to Libyans in particular and the world in general through documenting wildlife is that Libya has a unique biological diversity that deserves a lot of attention and deserves us to work together to preserve it so that future generations can enjoy this natural heritage.
How has wildlife photography shaped your view of Libya’s environment and natural landscapes?
My career in documenting wildlife in Libya is very recent, but it has contributed to shaping my vision of wildlife in Libya, it is an open book, every time I go out to photograph, I see and learn a lot, after I finish my bachelor’s degree, I did not have good knowledge of wildlife in Libya, documenting wildlife has contributed to my gaining a lot of knowledge about wildlife in Libya and I have become well aware that we are in dire need of discovering more about it, especially wildlife in the far south of Libya, and I wish I had the opportunity to work on documenting wildlife there, wildlife photographers have always contributed alongside scientists to updating data about species with their cameras, and during my modest career in documentation, I was able to add new records about species in Libya.
If you could leave one message with your Libyan colleagues about the importance of documenting wildlife, what would it be?
In the past, scientists from the West used to go on expeditions to Libya, there were scientists from Italy and England who used to roam Libya and write their records about the wildlife of animals and plants in Libya, they were aware that there was something worth the effort, today we have to take the initiative and do a lot so that the world can see more about the wildlife in Libya, the task is heavy and Our equipment is patience and cooperation, to put in the hands of the world “Catalog of Life in Libya”.
What message or feeling do you aim to convey through your photographs to the world?
The message that I seek to convey to the world through photography and documenting wildlife in Libya, is that Libya, which many around the world view as a dull spot in the southern Mediterranean, is a country that carries a lot of beauty that deserves appreciation and respect, in its biological diversity and the diversity of its ecosystems, in its valleys, plains, and mountains, in its forests and deserts, in every part of it there is life.
ElSowayeb’s passion for wildlife photography and protection demonstrates the vitality and richness of Libya’s natural heritage. His is a narrative of unrelenting devotion, a kept pursuit of knowledge, a strong commitment to maintaining the fragile balance of the country’s delicate ecosystems, and a willingness to delve into Libya’s hidden corners. Through his lens and his unwavering dedication, the world is slowly but surely being introduced to the remarkable biodiversity that thrives within the borders of this captivating North African nation.
Abd Alati Miftah ElSowayeb wildlife photographer and conservationist in Libya
