Most people pick up a telephoto lens to "capture" an animal. The artist, however, seeks to interpret it. The difference is subtle but profound.
The genre is drowning in sameness. Social media has created a "trophy hunting" mentality: the over-saturated lion at sunset, the cliché elephant raising dust, the "perfect" kingfisher dive. Furthermore, the rise of unethical baiting (using mice for owls, honey for bears) has turned wild animals into props. Many "wildlife" photos are now indistinguishable from studio portraits.