Welcome to the project.
Project Khumbula is the product of a years-long quest to educate and inspire action for conservation.
Earth is on the fast-track to losing a large number of its species every day due to deforestation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and the international illegal wildlife trade, and global warming. However, there are numerous conservation organizations around the world working tirelessly to combat the reality of that narrative. The Project Khumbula Collection was created to showcase the beauty and importance of those animals we are in danger of losing without those dedicated conservation efforts.
Khumbula is a Zulu word meaning “to remember,” and it is a word of special significance to me. Since I was very young, I have been enthralled with Africa. I’ve spent my entire life studying Africa’s cultures — learning their languages, their religions, the way they revere life — and their animals. African lions have long reigned over my list of favorite animals from the moment I could talk. No lion has ever been so special as a lioness at the Saint Louis Zoo named Cabara. For over fifteen years, I cultivated a bond with this special girl. In January 2025, she passed away from complications due to advanced age. I created Project Khumbula to honor all those like her who became cornerstones in the lives of all those like me — a way to remember them when the rest of the world kept turning.
Please take a stroll through the photographs of this gallery and learn about the animals with whom we share our time, space, and resources. If you feel compelled to make a purchase, please know that a generous portion of the proceeds from the item(s) you choose will be donated to a conservation organization supporting that species in the wild. It is my hope that this venture will create a steady stream of impact, however small, for just one more animal out there.
About Me
Hi — welcome! My name is Megan Turner, and I want to tell you a little bit about myself and a lot about the animals I photograph. I’m a self-taught, St. Louis-based photographer with over twenty years of experience capturing nature, wildlife, portrait, and sports photography. Currently, I co-own RedBear Reflections, a portrait photography business specializing in graduation and family photos. My greatest passion, however, lies in the pursuit of inspiring others to care about conservation! My happy place is the Saint Louis Zoo, and that is where I spend the majority of my time! You’ll see some of that here with Project Khumbula.