‘Wild Haiti 2025’ exhibit reconnects Haitians with their ecological heritage

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian photographer and naturalist René Durocher has unveiled Wild Haiti 2025, an immersive exhibition celebrating the country’s breathtaking biodiversity. The event offered an immersive journey through Haiti’s biodiversity, using photography and sound to inspire awareness and action for nature preservation.

Hosted at the Haiti-Brazil Cultural Center in Pétion-Ville from Oct. 3 to 16, the show featured 52 large-format photographic panels, video projections and natural soundscapes that bring Haiti’s wildlife to urban life through quality images.

The exhibition showcased more than 180 animal species, including the Kanson Wouj or “red underpants”—Haiti’s national bird and vibrant symbol of beauty and resistance— alongside snakes, frogs and parrots. Each image captures both the fragility and resilience of the nation’s ecosystems, urging visitors to reconnect with nature.

“It’s amazing to see the diversity of Haitian wildlife showcased this way. I learned things I didn’t even know about our own country,” said Victoria Collin, one of the many visitors.

“Biodiversity is a vital treasure. Preserving it will allow young people to learn from it and be inspired by it. My team and I are fully committed to helping everyone understand, value, and share this natural wealth.”

René Durocher, photographer

Supported by UNIBANK, the French Institute of Haiti (IFH), the Interministerial Committee for Land Planning (CIAT), the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP) and the Youth and Biodiversity Initiative (IJB), Wild Haiti 2025 aimed to raise environmental awareness and inspire younger generations to protect their shared natural heritage.

“Biodiversity is a vital treasure,” said René Durocher. “Preserving it will allow young people to learn from it and be inspired by it. My team and I are fully committed to helping everyone understand, value, and share this natural wealth.”

René Durocher welcomes visitors to his exhibition “Wild Haïti 2025” at the Haiti-Brazil Cultural Center in Pétion-Ville on Friday, October 3, 2025. Photo by Aljany Narcius for The Haitian Times.

A photographer rooted in science, art and ecology, and an artist beyond the lens

Born in Haiti 58 years ago, Durocher grew up surrounded by nature. His father taught him how to observe and care for animals, planting the seeds for a lifelong fascination with wildlife. Though he studied industrial and domestic electricity, his passion ultimately led him to photography — a medium through which he could merge art and environmental science.

A former science teacher, Durocher worked as a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer before dedicating himself entirely to documenting nature. His career pivot came in the mid-2000s, while working with the Seguin Foundation on a documentary that fused animal observation with photography.

Largely self-taught, Durocher evolved into a field naturalist, blending science, art, and environmental education. For more than a decade, he has led ecological workshops across Haiti, uniting scientists and local farmers to discuss conservation and sustainability.

“The combination of photos, video, and sound makes the experience truly captivating. You almost feel like you’re in the heart of nature.”

Frantz Louis, photographer

“My goal is to make people see nature differently — to realize that every species matters and deserves to exist,” he said.

Beyond his photography, Durocher is also an environmental advocate. He founded Eko Haïti, a project promoting eco-friendly stoves made from organic fuel, and partners with Wastek S.A., a Haitian company that transforms agricultural waste into clean-burning briquettes.

He also took part in disaster relief and reconstruction efforts after the 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew, experiences that reinforced his belief that “protecting nature means protecting human life and dignity.”

Durocher’s photographs, taken over three decades, document Haiti’s mountain ranges and protected areas, from La Visite National Park and Citadelle National Park to the forests of the South and Grand’Anse regions. Each image tells the story of coexistence between people and their environment.

“My work is not only artistic; it’s spiritual,” he said. “Each photo is an act of respect — a reminder that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.”

A living archive of Haiti’s biodiversity

Durocher’s portfolio serves as a visual archive of Haiti’s endemic species. He authored The Birds of Haiti (2014) and Haiti’s Herpetofauna (2015), blending scientific precision with artistic expression.

In 2015, he exhibited his biodiversity work in partnership with the Swiss Embassy in Haiti, Université Quisqueya (UniQ), and Fondasyon Konesans Libète (FOKAL), later taking Wild Haiti / Macaya to the Lunaret Zoo in Montpellier, France. Two years later, he published Wild Haiti with the French Institute of Haiti.

“It’s amazing to see the diversity of Haitian wildlife showcased this way. I learned things I didn’t even know about our own country.”

Victoria Collin, visitor

With Wild Haiti 2025, Durocher extends that legacy — a retrospective and ecological manifesto at once. His photographs stand as both a poetic tribute and a call to action, urging Haitians to rethink their relationship with the environment.

A visitor explores the “Wild Haïti 2025” exhibition at the Haiti-Brazil Cultural Center in Pétion-Ville on Friday, October 3, 2025. Photo by Aljany Narcius for The Haitian Times.

The exhibition remained open to the public for two weeks, ending on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Haiti-Brazil Cultural Center in Pétion-Ville, about six miles from the heart of Port-au-Prince. Students, families and nature lovers alike were invited to experience this sensory journey — a heartfelt celebration of Haiti’s living and natural heritage.

Students visiting the Wild Haiti 2025 exhibition pose with photographer René Durocher on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Haiti-Brazil Cultural Center in Pétion-Ville. Photo: courtesy of René Durocher.

“The combination of photos, video and sound makes the experience truly captivating,” said Frantz Louis, a photographer and teacher. “You almost feel like you’re in the heart of nature, and it inspires you to protect our environment.”

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