Neil Aldridge is a proudly South African conservationist, photographer, wildlife guide and lecturer. One of his images has just won first prize at the World Press Photo competition.
Neil Aldridge has won first prize for the World Press Photo competition in the Environment category. His image is of a Southern White Rhino being transported from South Africa to Botswana for its protection from poachers.
“A young southern white rhinoceros, drugged and blindfolded, is about to be released into the wild in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers.”
“Southern white rhinos are classified as ‘near threatened’. Rhinoceros horn is highly prized, especially in Vietnam and China, for its perceived medicinal properties, and in places is used as a recreational drug. Horns can fetch between €20,000 and €50,000 per kilogram. Poaching in South Africa rose from 13 rhinos a year in 2007 to a peak of 1,215 in 2014, and although these figures have declined slightly since then, losses are still unsustainable. Botswana is saving rhinos from poaching hotspots in South Africa and re-establishing populations in its own wildlife sanctuaries.”
Neil took the image in September 2017. He is a conservationist photographer, a lecturer in marine and natural history photography at Falmouth University in the UK, a published author and a professional wildlife guide. He credits himself as a proud South African.
Wow..so my photograph of a rhino just won @WorldPressPhoto. Unbelievable. Incredible awards night here in Amsterdam amongst inspirational friends & colleagues with my wonderful wife @strictlysophie. #WhatTheHellJustHappened pic.twitter.com/LegvMdc5ek
— Neil Aldridge (@AldridgePhoto) April 12, 2018
This isn’t the first time his photography has won awards. He has also won the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Neil started using his photography to help establish a rhino charity, the Rhino Conservation Botswana, in 2016. He has helped the charity to promote its work and raise funds for the movement of rhinos to Botswana, as well as the monitoring and protection of them.
Take a look at this winning photo below.
Sources: Twitter
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