Natural Bonds

Our world is home to a symphony of intertwined lives, cultures and worldviews.

Deep in the wilderness, capybaras, the large, fluffy rodents, can sometimes be found resting peacefully amongst crocodiles. Little honeyguide birds are thought to show the location of beehives to honey badgers, so they both enjoy the sweet honey inside. Burrowing tarantulas allow dotted hummingbird frogs to live in their nest, as they can help protect the spider’s eggs.

There are over 2.17 million species of life currently known – spanning animals, plants, fungi, birds, and fish that share the planet with us. Moreover, from more than 195 countries, over 7,159 languages are in use today, melting into the conversations, literature and dreams of over 8 billion people globally. There are also thousands of religions, distinct cultures and culinary traditions – all of which unite to form a rich tapestry of human life on our biodiverse planet.

Despite this wondrous diversity that has bloomed on our unique planet, societal polarisation is on the rise. As the world continues to globalise and become more interconnected, embracing diversity fosters peace, innovation and progress.

On this World Tolerance Day, we invite you to take a moment to appreciate the diversity of the lives around you. This could range from reflecting on meeting people of different cultures, the languages you hear often, the cuisines that grace your weekly plates, or the wildlife around you, from the birds that twitter in the dawn as you wake up to a desert flower in bloom.

This award-winning photograph was shortlisted in the Planet Category of the COP28 Photography Competition, a collaboration between The Climate Tribe and the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA to leverage the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.